Call to 'rush through' flood funds

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As the estimated cost of damage from floods in June and July soared towards £3 billion, Flood Recovery Minister John Healey said an application had been submitted for support from the European Union Solidarity Fund.

The fund is aimed at helping countries meet the uninsurable costs of natural disasters, such as supporting costs to the emergency services, cleaning up and restoring infrastructure.

Politicians welcomed the application, but some voiced fears that, even if the European Commission approved the funding, it could take 12 months for resources to become available.

Cheltenham Liberal Democrat MP Martin Horwood said: "An application to the EU is welcome but it will not be available for some time. More help is needed in the short term."

Gloucestershire County Council said its bill would soar to somewhere between £50 million and £55 million, and added that some residents had been told they will be living in temporary accommodation until Christmas.

Peter Antill, council director of finance in Tewkesbury, where up to 1,200 families are waiting to move back to their homes, said he hoped the money would arrive before there was more flooding.

"We are hit every year - the money may be too late to help those at need now. It's more about governing for the future. We can only pray the money arrives before the floods arrive again," he said.

Mr Antill added: "We have recently been donated £600,000 emergency support but I dearly hope the Government can get the EU support rushed through."

Officials leading the clean-up in Gloucestershire, the worst hit county, said repair bills for the county alone already totalled more than £50 million.