Floody disgrace

SNOW TO SHOW DEFENCE FAILURE

- JERRY LAWTON

MORE than half of Britain’s damaged flood defences have not been fixed since last winter as rain and snow batter the UK.

Environment Agency chief Sir James Bevan said that of the 610 defences damaged at the end of 2019, just 262 had been mended.

In 189 cases, temporary fixes or contingency plans were being used instead, while in 159 cases damage was minor so repairs were not thought to be urgent.