MOTORCYCLE clubs in the north of England have been patrolling flood-hit areas to protect homes and business from looting.

Members of clubs including the Pyeratz, Drifters, Broken Bones and Nuntii Mortis have joined forces to deter thieves from stealing possessions left on the street to dry by homeowners.

Flood victims in the Calderdale Valleys area had been posting on Facebook that that, along with having to contend with damaged homes, they also had to deal with looters. Dave Cariss of the Drifters club heard about the residents’ problems and decided to get involved by organizing a patrol with fellow club members. 

The response from other local clubs has been similarly positive and up to thirty riders from different clubs have got together during the past week to patrol in 4x4s, vans and cars. Lloyd Spencer of the Drifters said, ‘We spread out and go wherever needed. The police understood what we were doing. We are not there to offer anything physical. We just show our faces. Obviously we are not vigilantes. A lot of us are quite big, chunky lads, so that helps. We don’t have to really say anything, just turn up.’

They’ve been welcomed by local communities, who have been keeping the volunteers fed and watered and have the blessing of the police, who are stretched by the aftermath of storm Frank.

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