UK braced for more snow, storms and floods

Snow, hail, and thundery wintry downpours are expected to hit parts of UK.

17:51 27 January 2014

Bad weather is still in the cards for most parts of UK as the country braces itself for more snow, storms, and floods. In addition, six-week plans for flooded areas have been announced.

Britons were warned of ice, sleet, snow, hail, and thundery showers with temperatures expected to drop to around freezing across the country. It means worse flooding for some communities who are entering a fourth week under water.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson admitted that the government could have done more to help affected residents and that dredging of some rivers should have taken place.

Facing tough questions from people who were affected by flood, Mr Paterson said: "How shocking it is for people to be flooded and I really do appreciate the impact floods have had on people ... they are quite right to be angry."

Meanwhile, Matthew Lay, national officer of Unison, said: "Far from offering any comfort to residents affected by flooding, Owen Patterson is a major part of the problem.

"He is overseeing massive cuts to the Environment Agency despite all the scientific evidence showing that climate change is a major reason for a rise in the number of floods.

"The Government must put in place an Environment Secretary who accepts that the risk of flooding is increasing year-on-year.

"Communities up and down the country will remain in danger until the Environment Agency is given adequate resources and] funding to prevent and handle disasters caused by floods."