Minister's pledge to Hull

Ministers have promised that more help is "on the way" for the thousands of households affected by the recent floods.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, Health Secretary Alan Johnson and new Floods Minister John Healey toured the affected areas in Sheffield and Hull as calls grew for direct financial aid for the worst affected places.

In Hull civic leaders claimed they are the "forgotten city" in this crisis and are facing a bill which could well top £200 million.

Tonight Mr Johnson, who was touring Hull in his capacity as the local MP, said: "The important thing today is for John (Healey) to be here, to talk to people about their issues, and to get a first hand experience of the devastation caused in Hull.

"I am confident we will receive the help we need."

He added that it was "frustrating" to hear talk of Hull being the "forgotten city" because MPs in Hull had been "in the thick of it", filling sandbags and visiting crisis centres.

He said the floods had been "devastating" but added: "There is a great community spirit in Hull. We are going to pull together and recover from this."

Carl Minns, the leader of Hull City Council, earlier slammed the lack of attention the city has received compared with other areas and called on the Government for urgent help.

Many residents of the 10,500 properties evacuated in the city may not be able to return home for up to a year. Around 17,000 homes have damage ranging from waterlogged gardens to belongings floating in 4ft of water.

He said: "We are the forgotten city in this disaster. Hull has been more affected than all of South Yorkshire put together by these floods. Hull has been the hardest hit - what we are dealing with is a disaster."

"What we have in Sheffield and Doncaster is terrible and my heartfelt sympathy goes out to those people. But their problems have been fairly localised, whereas ours is spread right across the city. Hull also needs help.

He added: "Quite frankly if this was Chelsea or Fulham, this would have been plastered over the front pages for weeks."

Many people have been forced to stay with friends and relatives, sleeping on the floor or in caravans, or forced to live in hotels, he said.

About 1,500 volunteers and council staff are on a fact-finding mission on Thursday to survey damaged properties and find out how residents' needs can be met.

The council has already diverted £18 million from a home improvement programme for use in repairing flood-damaged homes.

Torrential downpours made last month the wettest June for almost 150 years, forecasters have said. An average of 140mm of rain fell across England and Wales - twice the long-term average and the highest since 1860.

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