UK floods: £2m tourist industry fund announced. 28 February 2014Last updated at 23:34 ET A tourist information sign surrounded by water after recent flooding The government is making £2m available to help firms which rely on tourism in flood-affected parts of England.
Experts will visit the areas concerned to run sessions offering practical tips on how to cope with the aftermath of the recent severe weather. Culture Secretary Maria Miller said the aim was to get tourism businesses "back on their feet". The fund is in addition to the £10m pledged by Prime Minister David Cameron to help businesses hit by flooding. Tourism body VisitEngland will host the advice sessions, which will take place throughout March. Windsor also suffered from flooding. UK floods: Damage 'could have been prevented' 21 February 2014Last updated at 09:30 GMT The BBC's Duncan Kennedy reports on the UK's "most controversial" winter Some of the damage caused by the recent floods could have been prevented if the correct water management techniques had been used, says a group of leading environmental and planning experts.
In an open letter, they urged the prime minister to adopt a clear strategy for future flood prevention. The call came as shadow chancellor Ed Balls said a Labour government would make investment in defences a priority. Downing Street said it was spending more than ever before on protection. Flood grants start date set for 1 April - Cameron.
20 February 2014Last updated at 09:10 ET More than 6,500 homes in England have been affected by the winter's floods The government's scheme to provide grants for homeowners in England hit by floods will begin on 1 April, David Cameron has announced.
Claimants will be eligible for payments of up to £5,000, to help cover future protection for properties. But they will not cover the damage or losses already suffered. Winter wettest on record - Met Office. 20 February 2014Last updated at 12:47 ET As John Hammond explains, it has been hard to miss the wet weather this winter With a week still to go in the winter, the UK's rainfall record for the season has already been broken.
The incessant storms and rainfall over the past two months have made this the wettest winter since records began in 1910. According to provisional figures from the Met Office, the UK received 486.8mm of rain between 1 December 2013 and 19 February 2014. This beat the previous record of 485.1mm of rain set in 1995. Continue reading the main story A winter that can generate no fewer than five new records for rainfall before it's even over is certainly exceptional and may prove to be unprecedented. Facebook to target flood victims with volunteer help.
UK storms: Army starts flood defence damage inspection. 19 February 2014Last updated at 17:38 ET Maj Gen Patrick Sanders has attended Cobra meetings at Downing Street since the crisis began The military has begun inspecting damage to flood defences following the recent storms, the general leading military efforts to help has said.
Maj Gen Patrick Sanders, assistant chief of defence staff, said more "detailed assessment" would start "in the course of the next week or so". Speaking as he left a government Cobra meeting, he said Royal Engineer divers had inspected a bridge in Somerset. He added experts had also been up in a helicopter to look at coastal defences. Earlier, Prime Minister David Cameron announced flood victims in England who had to leave their homes would be exempt from council tax. UK floods: Ministers to hold insurance meeting at No 10. 18 February 2014Last updated at 17:13 GMT About £14m in emergency payments has been made since 23 December, says the ABI The insurance industry has insisted that it was quick to help homeowners hit by recent floods after meeting ministers to discuss its response.
UK storms: Living with contaminated flood water. 13 February 2014Last updated at 04:26 ET By Claire Marshall BBC environment correspondent Ham Sandhu's house in Wraysbury first flooded on 8 January The water running thigh deep through Ham Sandhu's house in Wraysbury in Berkshire is freezing cold and murky.
Floating around in his kitchen is a toy car and a pair of slippers. Clunking gently together near the sink are two rubbish bins. UK floods: More rain and high winds forecast. 13 February 2014Last updated at 20:53 GMT Thursday brought better weather for many places, including Worcester, but more rain is expected on Friday A new band of heavy rain is expected to hit the UK on Friday, as engineers work to reconnect power supplies cut off by Wednesday's storm.
UK storms: Met Office issues 'Red Warning' for wind. 12 February 2014Last updated at 19:57 ET The BBC's Hywel Griffith: "Britain's wild winter just seems to rage on" A man has died apparently trying to clear a fallen tree as hurricane-force winds batter parts of the UK.
The dead man, believed to be in his 70s, was killed after the tree brought down power cables in Wiltshire. Gusts of over 100mph were recorded as Met Office "red warnings", the first of the winter, were issued. Sixteen severe flood warnings remain in place. Power and transport networks have been badly hit, in what has been called an "almost unparalleled natural crisis". Residents in many parts of the UK have been warned not to go out. Severe flooding Wiltshire Police say the dead man was killed in a suspected electrocution in Bremhill, a village between Calne and Chippenham, on Wednesday afternoon. UK floods: Severe weather expected in stricken areas. 11 February 2014Last updated at 17:49 ET David Cameron: "Whatever money is needed, we will spend it.
" The prime minister says money will be no object as flood relief efforts continue across swathes of the UK. David Cameron warned the severe weather was not over, saying: "Things could get worse before they get better. " Fourteen severe flood warnings remain in place in Berkshire and Surrey and two remain in Somerset. Around 1,000 properties have been evacuated, thousands more are at risk and there are warnings of snow, high winds and more rain later and tomorrow. The Met Office has issued an amber "be prepared" warning of wind on Wednesday as well as yellow "be aware" snow, wind and rain warnings.
It said the "potentially damaging winds" could be strong enough to bring down trees, causing transport and power network problems. Satellite imagery showing the storm moving across the UK. Flood Railways 9 Feb 2014.