Laser maps to save London from floods

The aerial image, accurate to within six inches, was created by scientists who flew over the city with equipment that fired a laser beam at the ground 100,000 times a second, scanning stretches of land up to 600m wide.

The Environment Agency is leading the project, which will eventually plot the topography of the entire country.

Phil Rothwell, head of flood defence policy, said: "We are working to provide a predictive indication of areas that are naturally vulnerable to surface water flooding, so local authorities and utility companies can carry out more detailed studies and better plan for flooding. We plan to have, by the summer, data that indicates the 'hot spots' where water may collect during extreme rainfall events.

"Local resilience forums will then be able to check against local knowledge of flood-prone areas and better understand the wider flood risk."

The map will be available to town halls, water companies and other organisations.

The agency has been given overall control over tackling floods in England after parts of the West Country and Hull were swamped last year. London boroughs may be given powers to force companies and property owners to boost flood defences.

The Government has been accused of failing to provide enough cash to prepare the country for more freak weather.