Flood defences ‘in worst state on record’

The EA has increased spending on flood defence maintenance and repair to £236m, up from £200m in the past year.

It said it had carried out 216,000 checks since last winter, focusing on the areas of highest risk.

Pumps have been pre-emptively deployed at seven “strategic depots” in vulnerable regions around the country.

But the stark nature of the challenge was highlighted last month when almost 1,000 properties flooded after heavy rain battered parts of England and Wales.

Caroline Douglass, EA executive director of flood and coastal risk management, said the country had seen an “unusually wet September”.

She urged homeowners to sign up to flood warnings, external as part of Flood Action Week, which runs until Sunday.

“We can’t always predict where the rain will fall or where flooding will occur, but we do know which areas are at risk,” she added.