Flood Victims Begin Mop-up

The task of mopping up after the worst flooding to hit Britain for many years began yesterday as householders in the Midlands and East Anglia surveyed sodden properties and possessions, writes Claire Longrigg. The Environment Agency announced it was "cautiously optimistic" that the flooding, which claimed five lives over the holiday weekend, had peaked and would recede. Tens of thousands of people were affected by the flooding when the river Nene and the Great Ouse in East Anglia burst their banks after five days of continual downpour. Peterborough was the latest city to be hit by the flooding. At least 20 homes had been evacuated and some areas were under 2ft of water.In Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, Northampton and Bedford, home owners and shopkeepers were wading through flooded streets to recover what they could. There was criticism of the Environment Agency for failing to issue adequate warning of flooding. Evan Harris, MP for West Oxfordshire and Abdingdon, demanded to know why there had been no warnings.

Facing the big clean up Yvette & Brian Tippet clearing their flooded home in Kidlington - Oxfordshire