Twin towns with shared woes

Hundreds of people in each village were forced out of their homes by the weather and as a result they have been united not just in experiences but in determination to go on.

When Raymund Rogers and Trixie Webster arrived at St Mary's Church in Catcliffe to talk about how their lives had changed since the floods in 2004, they were greeted by more than 40 members of the local community eager to hear how they had coped.

The two villages are now 'twinned' and Boscastle residents have taken time out of fundraising for their own flood fund to help out Catcliffe instead.

"We really have adopted Catcliffe," said Trixie.

"We empathise with them and we have first hand experience of what they have gone through. We have donated a lot of items including gift boxes with a few necessities in each."

Catcliffe residents are now looking at starting up their own community group, on the advice of Boscastle residents, so that people know where to turn when they need a bit of extra support.

"The community has pulled together as best they can but it has been frustrating that not everyone is in the same place," said David Bent, the vicar at St Mary's Church.

"It is hard to put pressure on people when you are just one person but if we work together we can create a united voice."