The scheme to protect properties in the village of Elvington, near York, has taken more than two and a half years to finish, despite predictions that it would be completed in just 10 weeks.

The village's 1,200 residents have become the first rural community in the country to help pay for flood defences to protect their own homes, as the scheme did not meet the criteria for Government funding.

But after getting the scheme approved, villagers saw the project set back by atrocious weather, including the torrential downpours that hit the Yorkshire region during last summer's flooding disaster.

The cost of the scheme has now risen to £400,000 – £50,000 up on initial estimates, although the increased bill has been picked up by Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee.

Elvington Parish Council chairman Ian Bailey, who has lived in the village for 20 years, said: "We can now sleep easy for the first time knowing that there are proper flood defences in place to protect our homes and ensure that the village is not cut off by rising waters.

"It has taken a great deal of dogged determination to ensure the scheme became a reality, but it does show what communities can do if they have this self-help philosophy.

"We are a very small community, but we have demonstrated that you can get things done yourself if you persevere."

The defences for Elvington were first mooted nearly eight years ago after the 2000 deluge, as the village was being cut off on a regular basis by seasonal floods.

But in November 2000 the waters did not subside for almost three weeks and emergency services had no access as surrounding fields were waterlogged.

However, because only a small proportion of homes were flooded, defences were not a priority for the Environment Agency, so villagers started a campaign strongly backed by Selby MP John Grogan to help protect their properties.

The Yorkshire Post revealed in April last year that local communities had been warned by the Environment Agency they would have to help pay for multi-billion-pound flood defence schemes amid a massive shortfall in Government funding.

Ten properties in Elvington, including the village hall, a shop and the Grey Horse public house, are at risk of direct flooding and a further 120 can be cut off by rising water.

The problems arise when levels in the River Derwent are high, causing water to back up along Elvington Beck, which runs through the centre of the village.

Work on the flood defences began in September 2006 amid hopes that they would be completed within the 10-week period, but bad weather throughout the intervening winters and last summer has meant that the project has only just been finished.

A new flood pumping station, paid for by the £120,000 raised by the villagers, was due to be built in March last year, but work was pushed back until the summer in the hope of preventing bad weather delays.

Construction began in September last year on the pumping station and was overseen by York Council, which also paid £20,000 towards the project, and the Ouse and Derwent Internal Drainage Board has taken over the running of the facility.

As part of the defences, the Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee paid for an embankment across Elvington Beck and a culvert to carry the beck under the embankment.

In addition, a valve to stop the River Derwent driving the beck back on itself has been installed.

The committee's cash comes from a central fund for flood protection, built up from council tax contributions from across the region.

The parish council has borrowed £40,000 towards the scheme, which will be recouped from the parish precept over 15 years, costing the average household an extra £8 a year.

The village also secured a £5,000 Lottery grant and support from local businesses.