A couple who drove a lorry load of aid from Norfolk to help Christmas flood victims in York have been nominated for an award.

Eastern Daily Press: Volunteers in York help Karen and Ken Henry unload the trailer filled with donated items for Christmas flood victims. Picture: SUBMITTEDVolunteers in York help Karen and Ken Henry unload the trailer filled with donated items for Christmas flood victims. Picture: SUBMITTED (Image: Archant)

Karen and Ken Henry, from Dilham, near North Walsham, delivered 44 tonnes of goods which had been donated by people from across the county.

The couple packed the items into a 45ft trailer borrowed from Mr Henry's employer, John Englestone, of North Walsham- based Saxon Motors.

And it was Mr Englestone who has nominated them for a York and District Medal, which is due to be handed out to 50 chosen recipients by the Lord Mayor of York at a ceremony in the city's ancient Guildhall next month.

Mrs Henry, 43, remembered that she and her husband, 51, had been watching the news on Boxing Day when pictures had shown the devastation caused by floodwater in York.

'The council had put out skips and they were filled with people's ruined furniture. One had a Christmas tree on top and I thought: 'Right, that's it. Here we are sitting in our nice dry home for Christmas - what can we do to help?''

At first the couple started looking for a few items to send victims from their own home but then Mrs Henry put out a call on Facebook.

The story also featured in the EDP and its weekly sister paper the North Norfolk News, plus local radio stations.

'We were inundated,' said Mrs Henry. 'Pushchairs, bedding, cots, toiletries, clothes - everything.

'They were chuffed to bits when we arrived in York and I felt a sense of pride that we had been able to get that amount of stuff together in three days.

'People had family and guests round because it was Christmas but they dropped everything to help.'

Mike Laycock, chief reporter of The Press, York's daily paper which is organising the awards in conjunction with the City of York Council, said there many local volunteers, plus mountain rescue groups from elsewhere in the country had rallied to help after the disaster.

But the Henrys had been unusual because they had been two concerned individuals from outside the area.

He added: 'No-one else did quite what they did, bringing a lorry load of aid up here - they were quite exceptional.'