The Yorkshire village where King Harold repelled the Viking threat to England in 1066 has been under siege from floods several times in the last two years.

Roy Parsley was one of dozens of people in Stamford Bridge who had to be evacuated from his home when the River Derwent bursts its banks.

The worst occasion was two years ago when his wife and daughter had to be rescued by boat.

If the insurance companies say they're not coughing up, the village would just die

Roy Parsley Flood Victim

His business The Pottery was closed for seven months for about �40,000 worth of repairs.

The water reached above knee-level, despite the shop being two feet above the ground.

The 42-year-old had the support of his insurance company in replacing the kiln, wheel and in installing a new kitchen.

But commenting on Esure's decision, he told BBC News Online: "If the insurance companies were to take that line, we would have to close the door, put the keys through the letter-box and walk away.

Trauma

"If they say they're not coughing up, the village would just die."

Although sympathetic to insurance companies having to make profits, he added: "But of course, it's not fair - when you get flooded, you need the insurance.

"We shouldn't be penalised - everyone else should be chipping in as well."

The Pottery suffered �40,000 damage

Mr Parsley said he would not have moved into the shop, six years ago, if he had known the dangers, and would now be unable to sell the property.

The answer in the long term is to tackle the floods and prevent insurance becoming an issue.

He estimated the �1.5m cost of a flood defence would be good value compared to the clean-up costs.

"We're living in fear until the Environment Agency put the flood defences around this village, because the whole community comes to a standstill in the event of a flood.

"Even emergency services could not get through for weeks."

Villagers want flood defences

What cannot be priced is the emotional cost of losing your home or having a narrow escape.

His daughter Charlotte, nearly four, is still affected by the experience.

Mr Parsley's neighbouring pub, the Swordsman Inn, was closed for eight months after floods in March last year.

Pub cleaner Christine Maltby, 55, said if Esure's new policy was widely adopted, it would shake the village.

"It's unfair. We can't help what happens here and it's people's livelihoods.

"It's a big pay-out for insurance companies, but they could get five good years out of us," she said.