Ray of hope in gloom

First the floods forced her to leave her home and now she has had to abandon her caravan - because it was simply too cold.

While the rest of Sheffield is moaning that autumn has arrived when there has hardly been a summer, the weather still has the upperhand for scores of flood families.

Mother Nature sent thousands of gallons of filthy water which destroyed their family homes and now the cold has forced Sally and her children to move in with her mum.

"We just couldn't live like that," she said.

"It was getting too cold."

Three months after the floods, her house in Catcliffe is just an empty shell but while many would be at the end of their tethers that enduring Blitz-style spirit is still prevailing in the village.

Sally can see light at the end of the tunnel because finally her house is dry enough for the building to start work this week.

That means things could be back to normal by Christmas time but Sally is only too aware it might well take longer.

The 39-year-old has moved into her mum's house in Handsworth with 13-year-old Rebecca and 14-year-old Thomas and is just grateful there is enough room for everyone to live comfortably.

The playgroup assistant goes back to Catcliffe most days and realises that out of the rows of caravans, she is one of the lucky ones.

"Our neighbours are still in caravans because they don't have anywhere else to go," Sally said.

"They are not as fortunate as I am and things are getting on top of them. There are arguments over things that there aren't normally and my heart goes out to them. There is light at the end of the tunnel though now things are moving."

The family spent most of the summer holidays in a caravan on East Coast after Sally decided an extended vacation was the only option.

Now they are settled back into South Yorkshire and, even though they had regular updates on what was going on, glad to be back surrounded by friends and family.

"I think the children were probably glad to get back with their mates," Sally said. "Now we are at my mum's they can mix and socialise more with their friends after school so it has probably worked out for the best.

"When we came back I was back into work so things seem to be getting back to normal as much as they can. It isn't as bad now."

Is your life still being affected by the summer's floods or would you like to offer words of support for those still suffering? Add your comments below.