Britain under water

2007 saw vast swathes of the country paralysed by some of the worst flooding Britain has seen, prompting scenes of devastation, desperation and distress

2007 saw vast swathes of the country paralysed by some of the worst flooding Britain has seen, prompting scenes of devastation, desperation and distress.

The worst affected parts of the country were Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire and parts of Bedfordshire
Emergency services battled to deliver supplies to 350,000 people in Gloucestershire alone, who had been without running water for several days
Tradtional means of transport were rendered useless by the unrelenting flow
The historic town of Tewkesbury (pictured) was dubbed 'the newest Island in Britain' after it was cut off by surrounding water
The extent of flooding meant dinghies and boats were the only effective means of transport
Cars lay abandoned after becoming overwhelmed by the water
A major rescue operation was launched, with many elderly residents having to be escorted to safety by the emergency services
Pets were also on the list of evacuees
As part of the recovery operation, thousands of gallons of bottled water were distributed by the military
Some analsysts estimated the eventual cost of insurance claims would be as high as £3 billion
Primer minister Gordon Brown pledged £46 million in aid to flood-hit councils while the Queen sent a message of support to those affected

Read iVillagers' first-hand accounts

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