Floods hit 16,000 properties in wettest December in a century, MPs told

Environment minister Liz Truss defends response to disaster as Labour claims government is underestimating risk

About 16,000 properties were flooded in England last month during the wettest December in a century, the environment minister has said.

Approximately 9,000 properties were flooded on Boxing Day in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Greater Manchester, Liz Truss, the environment secretary, told parliament on Tuesday. Earlier in December, 7,000 homes and businesses in Cumbria were affected by record rainfall, she said.