More flood disasters predicted

Flood-prone residents in England should expect more disasters this autumn due to government procrastination over flood defences, according to a leading weather scientist.

A report published by the Benfield Greig Hazard Research Centre (BGHRC) said this autumn's flood season could be very dangerous because of under-investment in flood defences and poor planning.

BGHRC head Professor Bill McGuire, said the government had done "nothing whatsoever". He said there were great bureaucratic problems with the way flood management was funded.

"The benefit of flood investment is quite simple," he said. "It will prevent people's houses getting flooded. We are just not prepared for floods."

McGuire said the wet summer had saturated the water table and, if a wet autumn and winter followed, there would be more flooding.

Royal & Sun Alliance household underwriting head Alan Gairns said he agreed with the research centre's report. "This is why, through the ABI, we are pushing the government hard to get funds available," he said.

There were flash floods all over England and Scotland last weekend. The North of England and Scotland were worst hit. A spokeswoman for loss adjuster GAB Robins said it had been instructed on a substantial number of claims.

Scotland was hit the week before by flooding and the Scottish Executive is planning to meet the ABI to discuss flooding cover for tenants.