STOCKBRIDGE Parish Council in Hampshire has "adopted" the parish of Sprotbrough and Cusworth, near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, one of many parishes to suffer the devastating effects of the floods earlier this summer.

Around 100 households were forced out as a result of the damage caused by the water, losing furniture and carpets, and will not be able to return for six months or even a year.

Now, Stockbridge council, along with St Peter's Church, has created a link to help those in need, with donations going into a central pot - the South Yorkshire Flood Relief Fund.

Parish council chairman, Roger Tym, said it was an old English tradition for parishes to link up.

He said: "First of all, one would hope most of the people would have been insured against flooding, but even if one is insured the effects of flooding last for a very long time.

"It's many months before anybody can get back into their houses and things are never the same as they were before. The experience is horrific."

The idea of the donations is to help top-up the money families hit by the flood receive in insurance money.

Mr Tym added: "It's just to let those people up in the north know that we in the south are still aware of the fact that they went through a hard time and they're not forgotten.

"Living on a flood plain here in Stockbridge we could be next."

Anita Unsworth, clerk to Sprotbrough and Cusworth Parish Council, said the council and residents there sincerely thanked the people of Stockbridge for their kind generosity.

Donations can be made via a cheque made payable to the S. Yorks Flood Relief Fund. There are collection boxes in various shops in Stockbridge High Street.

Alternatively, post a cheque to the chairman at The Old Manse, High Street, Stockbridge, SO20 6EX.

Mr Tym said any other parish could follow Stockbridge's lead by contacting the district councils in South Yorkshire.