A SUFFOLK man has today spoken about being part of a team who helped flood victims and rescue workers in the aftermath of flooding in Yorkshire.Mike Baker is a member of The Salvation Army's emergency support team in Stowmarket and was among a team that helped out in the flood-hit area of Tollbar, near Bentley in Yorkshire for much of last weekThe team provided lighting, electricity, boiled water, hot and refrigerated food for fire, police and local authority personnel as well as the people who refused to evacuate their flooded homes.

A SUFFOLK man has today spoken about being part of a team who helped flood victims and rescue workers in the aftermath of flooding in Yorkshire.

Mike Baker is a member of The Salvation Army's emergency support team in Stowmarket and was among a team that helped out in the flood-hit area of Tollbar, near Bentley in Yorkshire for much of last week

The team provided lighting, electricity, boiled water, hot and refrigerated food for fire, police and local authority personnel as well as the people who refused to evacuate their flooded homes.

The team were called on to help on Saturday June 30 and stayed until last Friday working shifts throughout the day and night to help.

Mr Baker has been a member of the 20-person team sunce 1979 and said: “That is part of what The Salvation Army's outreach to the community is about. Whether we need to put an arm around someone in need or give them a hot cup of tea, we need to be out there amongst the people in our communities. It's simply God's love in action.

“We experienced a whole range of emotions there - some kept their feelings to themselves but others didn't. Some of the locals were crying when we left, firemen thanked us and promised to send donations, a vicar from the area prayed for us and cried too.

“As we left, I said to folks that I hope I don't see them again, in a nice way of course. I certainly don't want to see any of them again in similar circumstances.”

Mr Baker said the relief work had been helped by the support they were given by people living in the area.

“I underestimated the support that we would get from the community. One local man brought in around £60 of food every day to share with others, a farmer's wife also brought food and another man visited us every day with fresh water on a trolley.”

The Salvation Army team's rescue effort in numbers:

Hours spent on site - 144

Man hours spent in rescue effort - 450

People assisted per day - 425

Snacks served - 1,000

Hot drinks served - 3,500