Families had to flee their homes last June when 13 houses on Newlaithes Crescent, Normanton, were flooded.

After the nightmare a new lease of community spirit swept the whole area and the Newlaithes Crescent Resid-ents' Association was formed.

They set about fundraising to build their own flood defences to protect their homes and gardens from the beck behind their street.

Brian Ball, 45, Newlaithes Crescent resident and treasurer of the group, said: "After the floods we were left to our own devices. I felt we had been forgotten."

"We started the work around Easter time and it's taken up until a few weeks ago to finish it. We've all been spending our weekends and spare time working on the wall."

The wall contains 35,000 bricks and cost around £12,000 to build, with a third of that paid for by the residents themselves.

Wakefield Council gave the group £3,000 and the community rallied round to boost funds.

In February, school friends Ebony Brumby and Bethany Perkins, both 12, organised a sponsored swim which raised £700 towards the flood defences.

John Ellis, 60, of Newlaithes Crescent hopes after all the hard work the residents will never have to face the same devastating scene as last year.