AFTER 20 years of running his business from a prime site in Hexham, flooding has driven a master saddler out of town.

John Duddy relocated his Northumbrian Saddlery business from Stamfordham to Bridge End, Anick Road, back in 1996.

But he was one of many business owners in the area left wading through up to 4ft of water after the flooding caused by Storm Desmond on December 5.

“The water was coming across the yard, but it always did in heavy rain,” John explained.

“But this time it didn’t disappear when the rain stopped. It just kept coming.”

John’s business – selling equestrian items, a repair service, and a saddle fitting service – was based next door to the Hubbuck’s agricultural merchant premises.

However, his stock was ruined and his van written off following the storm and he spent the weeks leading up to Christmas stripping out the contents of his workshop while searching for a new base.

“Had the workshop been resurrectable, of course I would have stayed put,” John said. “It’s always been a good match, being next door to a feed merchant.

“But the structure is wooden and it’s such a damp environment now that I can’t see it drying out properly.

“I even considered giving up at one point because everything was just ruined.”

John said he had been unable to bring himself to calculate the full financial cost of lost stock.

“Good quality leather does dry out and can be repaired, so I’m busy repairing and cleaning what I can,” he said.

“Twenty years is a long time and it’s been a wrench to leave Hexham, but I couldn’t face that again.”

After opening the doors of his new premises at Vallum Farm at East Wallhouses last Monday, he’s now keen to let customers know of his new location, and get out saddle fitting again.

“This is my livelihood, so I’ve got to keep it going,” he said.

“But at least I could go home to a nice warm house and get cleaned up.

“Lots of people haven’t been that lucky and are far worse off than me.”