Former military helicopter flying to East Yorkshire after farmland inundated by breach in canal wall

Part of a bank of the Aire and Calder Navigation breached on Sunday morning, leading to water pouring through onto agricultural land near East Cowick, near Snaith.

The private helicopter, which is coming from Northallerton in North Yorkshire, was delayed by bad weather on Monday morning.

When it arrives it will start lifting the first of 100 one-tonne bags of aggregate to drop into the breach.

The operation to seal the breach could last into Wednesday as the repairs will also need to be sealed using clay which will be delivered by barges.

No buildings are believed to have been flooded.

Police and contractors are on site and Back Lane has been closed to traffic.

The Canal & River Trust is leading an emergency response.

A spokesman for the CRT said they were made aware of the breach late on Sunday morning and had been on site ever since working with the Environment Agency and the Internal Drainage Board and the local farmer. The helicopter, known as a Huey, was still grounded on Monday lunchtime.

He said: "Just to make things safe we've blocked off three culverts which will prevent water heading to the village and flooding properties.

"All the modelling we've got from the Environment Agency suggests we will avoid flooding of any properties.

"Back Lane is closed off at either end, we have the aggregate bags ready to be lifted.

"We will be working here over the next few days, the bags will go in, then we will put clay round them to form a water-tight seal."