Angry residents blast Boris Johnson for refusing to visit flooded communities ravaged by Storm Dennis

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FLOOD-ravaged communities yesterday blasted the PM over Storm Dennis as the death toll rose to five.

Angry residents in Wales and the South West, which bore the brunt of the weekends 90mph winds and torrential rain, accused ministers of sending help elsewhere.

The PM was criticised for refusing to quit his working break at Chevening House, Kent, to chair an emergency Cobra meeting
Amy Prices family and dogs were pulled to safety in atractors bucket
Residents in Ross-on-Wye could be seen frantically bailing water out of their flooded homes

One angry councillor asked: Where is Boris? I havent seen him in his wellies reassuring people whose lives have been ruined.

Boris Johnson was criticised for refusing to quit his working break at Chevening House, Kent, to chair an emergency Cobra meeting.

About 400 homes nationwide were under water yesterday and hundreds of people were evacuated.

Scores of flood alerts remained including six danger to life warnings.

Water levels in some areas are not expected to peak until today.

‘DANGER TO LIFE’

Last night, police found the body of Yvonne Booth, 55, from Birmingham.

She had been swept away by the Teme at Tenbury Wells, Worcs, on Sunday.

A man pulled from the river remained in hospital.

Two men drowned off the Kent coast on Saturday.

A man in his 60s drowned in the Tawe, in Ystradgynlais, Powys, on Sunday.

A 42-year-old hill walker was found dead after he went hiking in the Scottish Highlands.

A woman was also missing off Brighton.

In Felinfach, also in Powys, Lib Dem Roger Williams said recommendations from a 2007 report, commissioned after floods claimed 13 lives, had not been carried out.

He added: Where is Boris? I havent seen him in his wellies.

RAF veteran Gordon Churchill, 96, and daughter Carolyn, 59, were rescued by boat along with his World War Two medals in Nantgarw, Rhondda Cynon Taf.

‘LOST EVERYTHING’

Carolyn said: They were all we saved. Ive lost everything.

Amy Price, her parents and their two dogs climbed through a window into the bucket of farmer Tom Joness tractor to escape the Usk in Monmouthshire.

Amy, 25, said: We were trapped for nine hours. There was 4 feet of water in the house.

Carolyn said: They were all we saved. Ive lost everything.

Factory worker Andrew Howell, 40, fled his home in Hereford where the Wye reached its highest level on record at 20ft above normal.

He said: Im surprised no minister has bothered to turn up.

“It would at least show they give a damn.

Tory Mark Garnier said a PM visit would cause unnecessary fuss, adding: Id rather he kept out the way.

And No10 said the PM was being kept up to date.

Shrewsbury Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski, whose home is at risk, said he has written to the Speaker to ask that Parliament is recalled.

In November, Mr Johnson was blasted for a slow response to flooding in Yorkshire, were he was later heckled while electioneering.

This time, nearly 150 soldiers and reservists have helped shore up flood defences in the region to deal with Dennis and the previous weeks Storm Ciara.

Environment Minister George Eustice tried to defend the Government yesterday as it emerged that just 1.5 per cent of 317billion earmarked for infrastructure projects has gone on flood defences.

The Government said 20,000 homes had been protected thanks to extra investment and further funding would protect another 300,000.

The Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs said its figures showed since 2015 investment per home at risk of flooding was equal to 700 in the North, compared with 335 in the South.

More heavy rain is forecast in the North for tomorrow and Thursday.

An RAF veteran managed to save his World War II medals before being rescued by boat from his flood-hit home
A car in flood water in York in the aftermath of Storm Dennis
A ghost cargo ship abandoned by its crew 18 months ago was blown ashore during Storm Dennis
Submerged Wye Valley was lit up by a rainbow after the rain finally stopped