The flood water may have subsided days ago but many houses in Harryville have been left so sodden that their residents have had to move out or have taken to living and sleeping upstairs, Councillor for the area, Beth Adger said yesterday (Monday).

While she said £1,000 compensation cheques could be expected within days by the worst affected, a great many people "are still very angry that this has happened to them".

Councillor Adger, who waded waist-deep into water on the Toome Road to help rescue people from their homes at the height of the local disaster, said that £1,000 would not go very far for most flood victims, many of whom, she said, were uninsured.

"It could be some time before people get back on their feet after this," said Mrs Adger.

"A lot of people have had to move out of their homes altogether with most going to stay with relatives.

"Some people have just moved the children out and are living in their upstairs.

"This really has caused a lot of hardship for a lot of people," said the Councillor.

"There has been flooding before but this time the water flowed down both the Antrim Road and Toome Road causing most problems where the two roads meet at Queen Street.

"I've certainly never seen anything like it!"

Mrs Adger, however, said she had also never before seen such a surge of community spirit.

"On the Saturday night when things were as bad as they could get everybody was just helping everybody else and the young people, who we are always moaning about, were wonderful.

"Many of them were coming back home after a night out but they all mucked in - carrying sandbags and doing just about anything they could to help".

Mrs Adger also commended fellow Councillor Martin Clarke who was on hand with her to help residents in Harryville; Councillor Tommy Nicholl and Councillor Officer Ronnie McBride for their input; and, the representatives of various statutory agencies who also played an important part over the flood weekend including Roads Service, the PSNI, Fire Service and the Council's Environment Health Department.

By last Wednesday, just four days after the deluge, Ballymena Borough Council had received 120 reported incidents of household flooding and, in response to the emergency and to assist those residents affected, the local authority organised an Advice Centre at The Braid to deal with queries on practical assistance payments, public health, building services and waste disposal.

Ballymena Mayor, Councillor Maurice Mills said he was "appalled" by the level of devastation in the borough.

"I am appalled at the number of people who have suffered as a result of this flooding event and we must make our best efforts, together with all the other agencies involved, to assist all those in need".

Aside from Harryville, numerous homes dotted around the borough in low-lying areas became waterlogged.