Houses were 'unprepared for floods'

Parts of the UK are still vulnerable to flooding and defences must be improved, it has been suggested this week.

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has said that everything possible should be done to ensure that the emergency services are ready to deal with similar situations to those seen last year.

Chairman of the flooding group at the ICE David Balmforth noted that the area is prone to flooding and that long-term measures should be put in place.

"The system that gives the people of this country their power, their water and all the other essentials is stretched to maximum capacity with very little extra tucked away for when things go wrong," he commented.

Moreover, homeowners should ensure that they place their own defences on their homes in a bid to lower the risk, something that may also concern them if they are looking to construct their own properties.

The Association of British Insurers recently released a poll that claimed many Brits think greater flood risk measures could be put in place.