David Cameron defended funding for flood prevention as he visited Yorkshire to see recovery in towns and cities devastated by flooding.
The Prime Minister rejected claims that there was a “north/south divide” in efforts to prevent flooding as areas took advantage of a respite from the rain.
But with more rain forecast for the middle of the week there may be worse to come, and the Environment Agency (EA) still has severe flood warnings in place - meaning there remains a danger to life.
Rain will batter the north of England on Wednesday with up to 3in (80mm) falling on high ground and potentially in excess of 4.7in (120mm) in exposed locations - with most places seeing up to 1.5in (40mm).
Mr Cameron hailed the “amazing” response of the emergency services and volunteers.
He said it was untrue that funding for flood defences had seen a 20% cut but insisted a major review of policy would look at whether more needed to be done and whether the strategy should be changed.
“We spent more in the last parliament than the previous parliament and we are going to spend even more in this parliament. So it is a rising budget - £2.3 billion on capital schemes that will make a real difference up and down the country.
“Let’s have a look and see if more needs to be done and whether the flood defences need to be made higher than they have already, and that’s exactly what we’ll look at.”
Clean-up begins in Yorkshire
Mr Cameron said £100m had been spent in Yorkshire on flood defences since 2010 and there are plans to invest a further £280m.
He added: “But that’s of no comfort, obviously, to the people who have been flooded here in York, all our hearts go out to them.
“To be flooded is a terrible experience anyway and it’s even more terrible at Christmas and New Year, a time when people are meant to be at home with their families and celebrating.”
