Businesses throughout the district are counting the cost of the flood damage.

The worst hit were at Stockbridge, with The Bridge pub among those bearing the brunt of the raging torrents. Manageress Jackie Lumb said: "We are totally flooded out and we have got no power -- it is the worst we've seen it and it's a big mess. The cellar and kitchen are totally flooded and it is one foot deep in the bar. We're thinking of starting a new water polo team!" she joked.

Omega Windows, based in Aireworth Mills, faced a similar situation with its 8,000 square feet of factory space submerged under four feet of water.

Director Mohammed Parvaiz said: "We only just started up the business in June and this has completely devastated our machinery and stock -- it is a complete write-off. All of our staff are totally devastated and we have even had one or two people in tears."

The flood water reached depths of four feet at Sitsafe Baby Centre and Sitsafe Car Safety Centre.

Baby Centre owner Mark Atkinson says: "I must have lost stock worth at least £100,000, and I would imagine refitting the premises will cost at least the same. All the panelling will have to be replaced, the display room sets are all ruined and so is the computer system and all the electronics."

Mark, who employs eight people, has been managing director of the business for the last two years, but has only owned it for two months. "We might have to find alternative premises to work from for a time, but we will be trading again as soon as possible," he promises.

John Horsfall, who runs Sitsafe Car Safety Centre, is in a similar predicament. "There is thousands of pounds of damage to stock, and I am worried about possible structural damage," he says. "The worst affected was the warehouse, which is just chaotic. It is like something from the Titanic."

Sitsafe sales advisor Jane Owen, who lives across the road in Florist Street, suffered a treble blow. Jane, 35, was woken by her neighbours at 5.30am on Tuesday and warned of the flooding, and had to wade out in knee-deep water.

Her house was flooded to about 18 inches, and her Vauxhall Astra car parked outside was submerged to roof level."We are not as badly off as some people, though," she says. "We are now busy getting rid of all the rubbish which floated into our front room."

Flooding has frozen production and melted products at Cononley's Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream factory.

Staff were unable to get into the Aireside Mills building on Wednesday when it was under several feet of water. But yesterday they were able to survey the damage. "We've lost all the contents of the cold store," says managing director Tim Wilson, "So we've absolutely no stock whatsoever."

He believes it could be several weeks until production can begin again.

Mr Wilson adds: "I want to make sure the Environment Agency knows that the Cononley wash land (flood) scheme is an absolute catastrophe. Every time we get overspill we get flooding. They should take urgent action on it."

A spokesman for the Environment Agency says: "The wash lands scheme was created several years ago. They are to store water, which overflows from the river. But now they are completely full.

"Once they're full they run over the top. At this time there are no plans to redesign them.

"The Environment Agency will carry out a full investigation in the wake of the flooding we're experiencing at the moment, for the whole of Yorkshire. I'm sure Cononley will be part of the equation."