Caravan help for flood-hit Brits

Up to 50 families who lost their homes in the June floods will soon be moving into a new caravan park built in one of the worst-hit villages.

The park at Toll Ball, near Doncaster in south Yorkshire, has been set up for local residents on the very same site where up to five feet of flood waters gushed out of the River Don in June, devastating their homes and forcing them into temporary accommodation.

Doncaster's mayor, Martin Winter, told the BBC: "I think the community themselves see that we are here dealing with some quite difficult situations and here a fairly radical solution to an issue is just part of the overall solution."

He conceded that the temporary solution was unlikely to satisfy everybody, saying: "We've also got to look at how we can support other people who've chosen not to come on to the caravan park."

In addition to the distress caused by damage to property, many homeowners who did not have adequate buildings insurance are facing the misery of relying on council handouts, with some residents of Hull City council dependent on as little as £125 per household.

That compares with an average flood claim of up to £40,000, according to the Association of British Insurers.

The total cost of this summer's flood damage is expected to run as high as £3 billion.

10/09/2007 22:38:58