SUSPENDED over eight and a half feet above the ground with support from 32 hydraulic jacks, this Corbridge house is almost ready for whatever Mother Nature has in store.

Home to Paul and Nicola Hobrough, and their three children, the property at The Stanners was one of 223 in the Tyne Valley which was ravaged by the worst floods in living memory on December 5.

But this week, after taking the radical decision to raise their home above the Tyne flood level, the family watched as teams of specialist builders finished lifting the entire structure by 2.6 metres.

The feat of engineering has spanned several weeks and began with a bespoke steel lattice being inserted into holes drilled around the base of the structure for support.

“The lattice was specially made for the house and it took about two and a half to three weeks to fit it,” said Neal Cavanagh, managing director of Hedley-on-the-Hill-based Labourn Construction, which is leading the build.

The jacks were then installed and the house has gradually been raised to full height over the last two weeks. The project is so unique that Nicola has been told the house could be in line for a world record.

“Apparently at 2.6 metres, the house will be 950mm over the world record for a mortar building raised the highest,” said Nicola, who has enlisted the help of specialists from Worcestershire-based jacking company, Hydra-Capsule, to complete the project.

“I’m told there are different records for buildings made with different materials.”

The jacks will support the house for the next four to five weeks while work to build up from ground level to meet the new height continues.

Breeze blocks, which will be decorated on the exterior with reclaimed stone to match the existing house structure, are the materials of choice.

“There’s about 120 tonnes of house and steel suspended at the moment,” said Neal.

And such is the spectacle, that it has caused quite a stir locally.

“People are really keen to know how it’s all going and there are often neighbours and local people just standing at the gates in awe,” said Nicola.

“I’m learning so much and everyone is working long hours to make it happen.”

If the project continues to go to plan, the family are hoping to move back into their refurbished home by October.