The Army will be deployed to assist flooded communities in Somerset, after the county council negotiated support with government departments.
High rainfall in the Somerset Levels and Moors regions has resulted in the most significant level of flooding for 20 years.
Environment Agency teams have been undertaking the largest ever pumping operation in Somerset, draining off an estimated 1.5m tonnes of water off an area of the Levels spanning 65sq km.
Following meetings between Somerset CC, the environment secretary Owen Paterson and the Ministry of Defence (MoD), specialist amphibious military vehicles, sandbags and manpower are expected to arrive in the region within the next 24 hours
Somerset CC's deputy chief executive, Pat Flaherty, said he now expected ‘swift and tangible results’.
‘I have spoken directly to the environment secretary and had a fruitful discussion,’ he said.
‘We talked about the availability of specialist military vehicles and I have spoken to senior figures at the MoD. I am anticipating a very fast turnaround and the arrival of vehicles and support help in a very short timescale indeed.’
Council leader, John Osman, said: ‘We are delighted with all the help we are offered. We are now getting the very fast response that we have appealed for and that is what residents in Somerset who have faced up to this flooding crisis for more than a month really deserve.’
