THE Sadler family didn't have to wait until Christmas for their best present - they were back home for the festive season after being forced out by last winter's floods.

Mum Bryony said: “We were amazingly happy to be home for Christmas after everything that's happened.

“Home's where we wanted to be for Christmas and the children, Elsa (three) and Toby (seven) are smiling and happy again.

“We didn't need any more presents than being home.”

Mrs Sadler, her husband Gavin, her mother Julie Howell and the children moved back into their home in Church Road, Moorland, on November 7, nine months and two days after the house was flooded up to 2½ feet.

The family are pleased with some of the work carried out to cut the risk of repeat flooding, although they would like to see more long-term commitment from the Government to tackle the problem.

“We're grateful to everyone who's helped get us back home, but we shouldn't have been put in the situation we were,” said Mrs Sadler, an active member of the Flooding on the Levels Action Group (FLAG).

“We've had a fantastic dredge - when it rained in November, the water stayed where it should have done, which shows the work was worthwhile and dredging should never have been stopped.

“There's some funding for more dredging and maintenance work over the next five years, but no real commitment after that.”

Not everyone has been as lucky as the Sadlers - neighbour Sally Vize spent Christmas in a mobile home on her farm as repairs have still not been completed, while Steve Parsons and his partner, Alison, are still living in a caravan while their home in Fordgate dries out.