Council leaders call for Government to ‘wake up’ to floods after major incident

Council leaders in Leicestershire and Rutland are urging the Government to “wake up” and release cash after severe flooding displaced hundreds of people from their homes.

Local leaders signed a joint letter sent to floods minister Emma Hardy on Thursday asking for funding to help flood-hit residents.

The letter, from LLR Prepared, a multi-agency forum, said: “This is the second year in a row where hundreds of residents are left homeless and local pubs, sports clubs and others do not know if they will be able to survive.

“Many are cleaning up after just getting on their feet after Storm Henk battered the area just 12 months ago.

“Residents sought shelter and support in emergency rest centres, many with just the clothes they were wearing. It is a torrid situation.

“The right thing is for the Government to release funding now and help our residents and businesses to get back to some kind of normality.

A severe danger to life flood warning was issued at caravan parks near Barrow upon Soar near Loughborough, while residents at Proctors Pleasure Park were urged to evacuate.

The Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service received 380 calls, rescued more than 60 people from properties and 27 from cars by boat since the flooding began on Monday, according to the forum.

It added that Leicestershire Police handled more than 2,100 calls on Monday, a near 50% increase on its usual daily demand.