Caravan firm to finance flood defences

Britain's leading caravan park business is to spend £1 million on sea defences.

Bunn Leisure will finance the project at its West Sands caravan park near Chichester in a bid to protect more than 2,500 pitches.

John Bunn, the company's boss, said he was being forced to fill the void left by government funding.

"It will involve a huge amount of rock and planning permission, although the Environment Agency could do it themselves if they wanted to," he told his local Argus newspaper.

"We think this site is worth saving," Mr Bunn added.

The government has faced stiff criticism since the summer floods for failing to immediately increase spending on flood defences.

Critics argue that the Environment Agency, the body responsible for maintaining flood defences, has not been given sufficient financial support.

04/01/2008 09:01:04