Heavy rain and floods stir up political storm
Environment Agency issues 14 severe flood warnings for the Thames to the west of London
Thousands of homes in southeast England were braced for flooding yesterday after the River Thames burst its banks, as a political row over the handling of devastating winter storms erupted into the open.
The Environment Agency issued 14 severe flood warnings - meaning lives are at risk - for the Thames in the affluent counties of Surrey and Berkshire to the west of London.
I am sorry we took the advice ... we thought we were dealing with experts
Some areas are already under water, including parts of the Great Windsor Park, near Queen Elizabeth's castle at Windsor, which itself is built on higher ground.
London itself is protected by the Thames Barrier, although a suburb to the south of the capital, Croydon, announced plans to divert rising floodwaters caused by heavy rain away from homes and businesses by pumping them into a pedestrian underpass.
Parts of the southwest of England have been under water for weeks after the wettest January since 1766, with more bad weather expected.
There has been a growing tide of criticism at the official response, which has erupted into a full-blown political row.
