Database to show flood defences

The Environment Agency is adding a flood defence database to its website.

A spokesman confirmed that the information would be used in the What's in Your Backyard section of the website, which currently provides indicative flood plain maps. The database will go live by the autumn.

"It has always been our plan to build on the site," the spokesman said. "The site now simply says where the flood plains are, so we need to include flood defence information."

Independent property repairer Multiassistance has reported a 30% increase in storm-related repair requests in July and August. This follows recent flooding in the north of the UK.

Head of sales and marketing at Multiassistance James Grant said the heavy rainfall did worse than raise the river levels. "The storms expose weaknesses in roof and wall constructions, which ultimately cause significant damage to ceilings, decoration and floor coverings," he said.

He said an increase in insurance building repairs was "traditionally seasonal", but July had been a "record month," with many more storm-related repair claims coming through.