THE Prime Minister has promised to send more troops to 'do whatever is needed' to help people stricken by floods.

East Lancashire is clearing up the aftermath of Boxing Day's deluge today as David Cameron chaired an emergency Cobra meeting about the floods.

The Government has vowed to review flood defences after the Army was involved in evacuations in Whalley yesterday.

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And hundreds were left without power in Padiham due to widespread flooding.

Mr Cameron said: "I've just chaired a Cobra meeting on the unprecedented flooding. Huge thanks to the emergency services and military for doing so much.

"Also my sympathy for those affected at this time of year. More troops are being deployed as part of a plan to do whatever is needed."

 


Mr Cameron told the BBC: "What has happened - the level of the rivers, plus the level of rainfall has created an unprecedented effect and so some very serious flooding. The Cobra call has been important because we've decided to deploy more military resources, more military personnel, to help.

"But let me say the emergency services have done a fantastic job and continue to do so, and they deserve the whole nation's thanks. But of course, at this time of year, we all feel huge sympathy for those who have been flooded and have had to leave their homes."

Details of further help from the military will become clear later today, Mr Cameron said.

He added: "As some areas of the country move from the emergency into the recovery phase, we'll also make sure that the help we have given to Cumbria will be available to other parts of the country."

 


Mr Cameron said that with the prevalence of such extreme weather events on the rise, investment in flood defences would continue.

He said: "Whenever these things happen, you should look at what you've spent, look at what you've built, look at what you're planning to spend, look at what you're planning to build, and ask whether it's in the right places, whether it's enough, whether we're doing everything we can to try and help.

"The flood barriers have made a difference - both the permanent ones and the temporary ones - but it's clear in some cases they've been over-topped, they've been overrun, and so of course we should look again at whether there's more we should do."

 


The fire service - which was forced to evacuate a flooded fire station in Padiham - said it had been called out to around 350 incidents in Lancashire and rescued 50 people on Boxing Day.

Todmorden was completely cut-off by flood waters and a 200-year-old former pub, which sits on a bridge over the River Irwell, in Summerseat, near Ramsbottom, was swept away in raging waters.

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The Met Office said the worst-hit areas would see very little rain today - 1-2mm at most in the late afternoon.

The Environment Agency issued a number of severe flood warnings yesterday, signalling a risk to life, with rivers reaching record levels.

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