Brown announces £14m in flood aid

Details of the scheme were released by the Government as the Prime Minister arrived in Toll Bar, the Doncaster village particularly badly hit by the flooding.

It includes £10 million for local authorities to support recovery work, including getting people who have lost everything back on their feet.

Another £3 million will go towards repairing roads and bridges and a £1 million contingency fund has been set up to help replace essential household items for vulnerable individuals and their families.

Mr Brown said: "I would like to pay tribute to the heroic efforts of those who have responded to the floods locally.

"The emergency and rescue services, local authorities, Environment Agency, voluntary sector and individual members of the public have been brave and determined in what are very distressing circumstances.

"I am taking immediate action to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the floods by announcing a £14 million package of support to get people back on their feet as quickly as possible. Government will continue to work closely with local councils and communities as we do everything possible to help."

Mr Brown also announced moves to make it easier for councils to claim back the costs of dealing with the floods from Whitehall. They will now be able to claim 100% of their expenditure rather than the usual 85% under the Bellwin scheme and be able to claim over a six month period not two.

Catastrophic weather has turned thousands into "environmental refugees" and critics claim some have been forgotten as they struggle to rebuild their lives. Insurers are dealing with claims from about 27,500 homes and 7,000 businesses - with payouts expected to top £1.5 billion - 50% more than the industry originally thought.

The north of England was particularly badly hit by the floods and hundreds now face lengthy waits to find out if and when they will be able to return home. Hull, where more than 10,000 homes had to be evacuated, has been dubbed the "forgotten city" by local civic leaders in the wake of the flooding. Four South Yorkshire authorities - Doncaster, Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield - have launched the South Yorkshire Flood Victim Support Appeal. Local residents are being asked to raise money for those affected by flooding and also to donate unwanted furniture.