The price to repair Kathleen and John Boulby's flood-wrecked home is expected to be more than its market value.

The estimated cost of the structural work to the Hallows Road semi in the Stockbridge area of Keighley, and the fixtures and fitting, is reckoned to be about £43,000.

Mr Boulby, 54, believes that before the floods in November, the house he bought 34 years ago for £1,950 was worth in the region of £40,000.

"I was staggered at the cost of the repairs. We've had some problems with the loss adjuster over whether the conservatory can be repaired or replaced.

"But even so we estimate it will cost about £30,000 for the structural work and the rest for the fixtures and fittings."

Work had still not started, but they hoped to be back home by early May, he said.

The couple, pictured, have been living in a small terraced cottage in Chapel Lane, Oakworth, since the flood and 51-year-old Mrs Boulby is recovering from pneumonia, which she believes she picked up after falling into the flood waters.

The couple were trapped in their bedroom and had to be rescued by boat.

"We are longing to get back home - especially Kathleen. It's OK here but it's not home," said Mr Boulby.

Today the Yorkshire Regional Food Defence Committee was meeting in York for the third time to agree a levy on local authorities to pay for flood defence work.

Joan O'Hara and her husband Michael still have several weeks of living in the Dalesway Hotel in Crossflatts before they can get back into their home in Florist Street.

"There's nothing wrong with the hotel but spending all your time here is not good."

She was looking forward to the start of work, especially for the floorboards to be laid and the kitchen fitted.

The aim was then to move in and live upstairs while the rest of the work was carried out, she added.

Very few people have moved back into their homes in the Florist Street and Worth Avenue areas - the worst hit in the November floods.

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has fitted a sluice into a retaining wall of the river Worth, which can be opened to allow future floodwaters from the nearby River Aire to be flushed into the Worth.