Farmer faces huge clean up operation after flash flooding washes livestock away

Douglas Barningham, Home Farm, Langthwaite, in the north eastern corner of the Yorkshire dales, saw his yard and building decimated by heavy rain on Tuesday night, which had caused to Arkle Beck to burst its banks and redirect through his yard.

With potentially thousands of tonnes of stones washed in to the yard, the torrent swept away about 80 Mule gimmer lambs, destroyed vehicles and displlaced in the region of 300 silage bales.

Mr Barningham, whose house was also partially flooded, farms 700 Swaledale ewes and 25 sucklers, the latter of which were on the hill away from the floodwater.

He said: "It was like something out of a disaster movie. You could hear the water and rocks being washed through the yard and it was a scene of devastation.