An extra £30m has been pledged for flood repairs and maintenance after the prime minister defended the government's response to the storms.

That is on top of the £100m announced by David Cameron on Wednesday.

Mr Cameron will chair a Cobra emergency committee later as more rain is forecast for areas already saturated.

Meanwhile, the transport secretary said he would review alternative rail routes to south-west England after a "vital" Devon rail line was destroyed.

Communities Minister Eric Pickles told MPs that the severe weather had caused damage to the transport network and sea defences as well as power lines.

He said the government would carry out a "rapid review of the additional work needed to restore our flood defences and maintain them".

A further £30m would be assigned to flood works, Mr Pickles said, in addition to the extra £100m announced by the prime minister on Wednesday.

Source:
BBC News