AND we were complaining about the amount of rain this year.

Back in February 2014 the County Gazette reported on severe flooding around the area, with the Somerset Levels particularly badly hit.

Among those who visited the area to inspect the damage was Prime Minister Minister David Cameron, who guaranteed money would be made available to help homeowners, businesses and farmers ‘get back to normal life’ on the flood-hit Levels.

Mr Cameron made a whistle-stop visit to Taunton Police Station, where he attended a meeting with Gold Command, a committee made up of representatives of local authorities who were co-ordinating the flood work, and saw some of the work done by the military, local councils and the Environment Agency.

He told the County Gazette “as much funding as is needed” would be made available to Somerset and the county would not be forgotten despite further flooding on the River Thames.

He said: “We will make sure, whatever it takes, money is there.

“There are financial constraints but we are a wealthy country with a growing economy and even in this emergency for our country we will spend the money where the money is needed.

“If money is needed for the clean-up or for households it will be available – what we need at home we will spend at home, I guarantee that.

“We are looking at what can be done to help people and businesses get back on their feet and get back to normal life.”

Mr Cameron said costs incurred by county and district councils would be 100 per cent reimbursed through the Government's Bellwin Scheme, which allows councils to apply for financial help in emergency situations.

The Prime Minister admitted the situation was “a difficult one” and said a lack of dredging in previous years was a mistake they could learn from.

He said: “Some dredging was done last year but we can look back to the late 1990s and see that the pendulum swung too far away from dredging.

“More dredging will be done as soon as it is safe to do so because, even though it isn’t the only answer, it can make a difference.”

The Prime Minister was keen not to point any finger of blame and said people would be impressed if they could see the work of the police, fire service, Royal Marines, the Environment Agency and councils.

He said: “Everything that needs to be done is being done, but this is the worst weather for 250 years and it will take time – the Government will be in it all the way.

“It was important to get the Army involved and you can see they are doing a great job.”