MORE FUNDING FOR FLOOD-HIT AREAS

During a visit to Tewkesbury - one of the worst hit towns in last summer's floods - Floods Recovery minister John Healey confirmed the additional funding for 62 authorities.

The latest allocations from the Government's Restoration Fund include £7.5 million to authorities in Hull, £4.1 million to authorities in Gloucestershire, £7 million to authorities in South Yorkshire and £4 million to East Riding.

Visiting families in recently restored homes in flood-prone Rosefield Crescent, in Tewkesbury, Mr Healey said: "One year on from last summer's floods I have been impressed by people's resilience and how communities have pulled together to get back on their feet.

"The floods hit large parts of the country causing devastation and misery for thousands of people.

"Over the year my priority has been to ensure these areas got co-ordinated and continuing support from government. So far we've made available over £100 million to assist the affected regions recover and help those in greatest need.

"I am able to announce that 62 local authorities will receive a share of a further £31 million to support their continued efforts to rebuild their communities.

"They will be free to spend this as they see fit, depending on local priorities."

The funding is on top of more than £100 million provided by the Government to date.

Earlier this week Mr Healey announced the number of flood-hit families still out of their homes has fallen by a quarter in the last month and the number living in caravans has halved.