Home and dry? The flood victims who are putting up their own defences

Unconvinced by the government's plans, hard-hit homeowners are taking costly steps to protect their property

Government pledges to spend billions of pounds on flood defences are failing to convince vulnerable householders, who are taking matters into their own hands. The government plans to spend 2.3bn on flood management and defences over the next six years. Yet, as UK residents are warned to expect more flooding after the devastation in Cumbria, Yorkshire and Lancashire, some homeowners are installing or building their own defence systems.

The Pavitts - Charlotte, 33, and Andrew, 36 - have chosen to fight back after floodwater wrecked their home two years ago. Charlotte says the ground floor was only under an inch of water, "but for all the damage it caused, it might as well have come up to my thigh".