Closure threat for flood charity

Worcestershire was badly hit by floods in 2007

A charity set up to help flood victims is in danger of collapsing due to a funding shortage.

The National Flood Forum was started by Mary Dhonau, from Bewdley in Worcestershire, in 2001 after she was a victim of widespread flooding.

People affected by flooding across the UK are offered support by the charity but it faces closure unless £50,000 is found by the end of the year.

The group also lobbies government and gives advice on flood defences.

'Misery and trauma'

The government gives the charity about £20,000 a year for specific projects but it gives nothing towards its work with dozens of communities up and down the country.

"I find it rather ironic that despite working hard to support thousands of flood victims since 2007, and also working alongside both Defra and the Environment Agency to raise awareness of flooding and to promote "self-help" within communities, we are still struggling to make ends meet with a deficit funding of £50,000 highlighted for this year alone," Ms Dhonau said.

Laurence Waterhouse, chairman of charity said: "Anyone who has suffered from flooding can illustrate how much misery, trauma and, in some cases, severe financial loss it can cause not to mention downright inconvenience to people's lives.

"Two years on there are still people who require support from the National Flood Forum."