Flooding caused by poor management and floodplain building, say experts

Big floods likely to become more frequent because of climate breakdown

Poor management of the rural landscape along with global heating and building on floodplains are the main factors that led to the floods that have engulfed towns in northern England, according to experts.

Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster are among the places flooded, 12 years after they were badly hit when the River Don burst its banks in 2007. Many affected areas, including Meadowhall shopping centre, where customers were stranded overnight, lie within the river's floodplain - low-lying land next to the river that naturally floods during high flow.