MORE than 15,000 homes and businesses were flooded in areas across northern England in last year’s devastating storms, new analysis shows.

Councils are still helping flood-hit homes recover from the disruption caused last winter as storms Desmond, Eva and Frank swept across the country, the Local Government Association (LGA) said.

The figures show 350 homes and 157 businesses in York were flooded, and 404 homes and 96 businesses in North Yorkshire.

Ahead of this winter town halls are encouraging people to be prepared for future flooding, by taking steps such as checking if they are at risk of flooding, signing up to free warnings and identifying what to take with them if they need to evacuate.

A snapshot survey by the LGA found that 15,237 homes and businesses were flooded in just eight areas.

Martin Tett, LGA environment spokesman, said: “Councils are doing everything they can to protect households and businesses from the possibility of further devastating flooding this winter.”

A flood resilience review by the Government into the winter storms outlined £12.5 million for temporary defences.

The review said the Met Office has concluded that winter monthly rainfall totals could plausibly be 20 per cent higher than recent past extremes in some parts of the country.