A new community boat has arrived in Somerset to be kept on standby in case of any future flooding emergencies.
This boat, complete with engine and trailer, has been funded by Somerset County Council with support from South Somerset District Council, and purchased through the Wheelyboat Trust.
During the severe flooding of 2014, the village of Muchelney was cut off for 10 weeks and the only access was provided by a boat funded by Somerset County Council.
Since those floods, considerable work has been carried out by many different agencies under the 20 Year Flood Action Plan to reduce the likelihood and impact of floods on the Somerset Levels and Moors.
As well as the road-raising at Muchelney and ringbanks in Thorney, there are major works being carried out at Beer Wall on the A372; the Environment Agency has carried out 8km of dredging on the Parrett and Tone, and grants totalling £325,000 have been given out under the Repair and Renew scheme.
The Somerset Rivers Authority has also been created.