Defra official views flood damage

The bridge collapsed into the River Corve

Damage caused by flooding in a Shropshire town is being inspected by a government official.

Helen Ghosh, permanent secretary for the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs, is visiting Ludlow.

It follows the visit of Home Office minister Liam Byrne to the town on Monday, when he inspected the Burwell Bridge which collapsed in the floods.

Ms Ghosh is visiting Shropshire to investigate the impact the department's policies have on rural areas.

She was invited by Ludlow MP Philip Dunne and will also visit the Greenfinch anaerobic digester which is being funded by Defra as a pilot renewable energy plant.

She will then visit Coronation Avenue to see the devastation caused by last month's floods, before meeting local farmers at Ludlow Town Football Club.

They will be offered a chance to raise issues of concern, with the rural payment agency's handling of the single farm payment, flood defences and bio-security measures expected to be high on the agenda.