Flooding minister Robbie Moore has visited Gloucester to ensure “quick wins” are being carried out to help residents devastated by the storm.

The Under Secretary for water and rural growth visited Alney Island on Monday and put pressure on the Environment Agency to urgently fix gaps in its wall defence.

He said: “Heavy rainfall following Storm Henk has seen widespread flooding right across the UK.

“Alney Island in Gloucester experienced the third highest water levels in the last century and I saw the devastating consequences that flooding can have on communities,” he said.

“Residents told me about the challenges they have faced from the floods in recent years. I also spoke with Environment Agency teams on the ground who have been working hard to support the community.”

He was joined by Gloucester MP Richard Graham who urged the EA to consider raising the height of the flood defence wall to better protect homes.

Mr Moore told his fellow Tory he plans to call a meeting with 38 MPs to discuss the long-term plan to prevent flooding in the River Severn region.

He said: “The next steps are really important because it's devastating when residents have been impacted. I'm really keen to make sure those quick wins can be achieved.

“We’ve seen gaps in the wall down here and we have spoken to the Environment Agency and they have been out on this visit today and we have got to make sure some of the gaps are sealed.

“I also want to meet with all 38 members of parliament that are involved in the wider Severn catchment so we can have a discussion around longer term thinking and planning.”

The Government has activated the Flood Recovery Framework to provide funding for the households and businesses most impacted by recent floods. 

Mr Moore said the government is also investing a record £5.2billion to better protect hundreds of thousands of homes from flooding over the coming years.

Mr Graham said: “Longer term he agreed to look closely at the recommendations from the Severn Partnership, which I helped form some years ago, and consider a new reservoir in the Welsh Hills to hold back water from the River Severn.”