EA warns of more risk of flooding - WalesOnline

The Environment Agency (EA) has warned of a continued risk of flooding across England despite a drop in rainfall.

The EA warned river levels are set to peak in the next 48 hours, putting further properties at risk, with the Thames, Trent and Severn deemed to be of particular concern.

It warned of a risk of flooding in Gloucester, Salisbury, Oxford, Sunbury, Abingdon and York, while mobile flood defences have been erected in Shrewsbury and Bewdley in Worcestershire.

Four people have died since the latest bout of wet weather struck.

A man killed when his 4x4 was submerged after getting wedged under a bridge in Somerset was reported to have been John McNair, a 77-year-old grandfather of 10. The Evening Standard reported that Mr McNair, the former chairman of the East Lewisham Conservative Association in London, was on his way home to his farm in Painscastle, Powys, after visiting his son in the village of Chew Stoke when he died on Thursday.

Prime Minister David Cameron visited flood-ravaged homes in Buckfastleigh, Devon, where he told residents the Government would do everything to "help them with the recovery".

Mr Cameron also promised to take a "tough approach" on negotiations with insurers over homes in danger of flooding.

Up to 200,000 high risk properties could be priced out of affordable cover when a deal struck in 2000 between the then Labour government and insurers ends next summer.

After meeting householders in Buckfastleigh, which was struck by flash flooding at the weekend, he said: "It is obviously very traumatic when communities are hit by flooding like this but what I found are people are incredibly steadfast and have behaved incredibly bravely at handling the flood and now we need to help them with the recovery.

"We have to make sure their insurance pays out, make sure the Environment Agency puts in place good flood defences, make sure there are better warning schemes."