WEST Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer visited Upton-upon-Severn at the weekend to see the devastation for himself and to talk to locals.

In the house of Commons on Monday, during a question and answer session with Labour Minister Elliot Morley, he asked when the town could expect to see any of the £51 million promised by Government for flood relief measures.

He said: "When the Deputy Prime Minister kindly visited my constituency over the weekend, he gave so many assurances that they prompted my constituents to ask when Upton-upon-Severn will receive its share of the £51 million or when we will be told that it will do so.

"More generally, when we will we hear any details of the £51 million and, more particularly, what will its impact be on reducing the risks of flooding?"

Mr Morley replied: "As the honourable gentleman will appreciate, schemes for flood defence have to go through the processes of design, evaluation and receiving planning permission. They cannot be introduced immediately.

"Nevertheless, I repeat that the £51 million of new money means that we will be able to introduce a range of additional schemes that we could not have introduced otherwise."