A VOLUNTEER who has helped to sort and distribute tonnes of aid to flood victims has been nominated for the York and District Medal.

Tony Castle, of Heslington, stepped in to help out when a Norfolk couple drove a 44-tonne truck lorry to York, full of items including food, bedding, clothing, mattresses, sofas and cleaning materials which had been donated by the people of Norfolk.

He helped unload the lorry into a large barn which was provided through a contact, said Neil Tappin, who is nominating Tony for the medal.

"Together with volunteers from Bell Farm and another volunteer, Lisa Harrison, he unloaded and spent the next eight days sorting through and distributing where needed food, furniture, clothes, cleaning equipment etc," he said.

"He also arranged for a couple of charities to come in and purchase donated toys, for the money to be sent direct to the fund.

"I first met Tony when volunteering myself at the barn. He had been down to Rosemary Court in Navigation Road and had found a young couple sitting on the side of the road, who had been away at Christmas and had come back to find in excess of 2ft of water and had lost everything.

"They hadn't eaten and he took them back to the barn via a chip shop that donated them some fish and chips. They called me and my van and I went over and we filled it with goods including sofas, beds, and lots of other products which we then delivered and fitted them out.

"He has been involved since the start and has helped both hands on with the clear up and used his business contacts to arrange large donations of nearly 100 beds from Airsprung and 64 brand new sofas from Harveys."

Tony is just the latest of a stream of people to be nominated for the medal, which aims to recognise the people or organisations who came to the rescue of homes and businesses which were inundated in the period after Christmas.

The Press has teamed up with City of York Council to honour the heroes of the floods through the medal, with support from York-based mutual healthcare provider, Benenden.

  • To nominate your flood heroes email newsdesk@thepress.co.uk with your name, address and contact details, plus the name and contact details (if available) of the person you are nominating, and explain the reasons for the nomination. Alternatively, send your completed nominations to York & District Medal, Newsdesk, The Press, 84-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN.