Experts criticise George Osborne over flood protection funding

Tories promised 400m a year investment on flood defences but data shows spending was cut sharply at start of last parliament

George Osborne has been accused of jeopardising Britain's crumbling flood defences over the past five years by prioritising cuts to the deficit, and has also been warned that infrastructure spending may need to rise sharply to adapt to climate change.

The warnings from leading academics came as parts of the UK were hit by Storm Frank on Wednesday, with hundreds of homes evacuated and thousands of people left without power.