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PM'S WINTER WARRIORS

Theresa May will put 1,200 soldiers on 24 hour standby to tackle floods this winter as she vows to protect Brits

It comes ust two years after David Cameron was panned for his slow reaction to flooding in Somerset

Three army battalions are being put on permanent standby in the North, Midlands and South of the country

THERESA MAY is putting over 1,200 troops on 24 hour standby to tackle floods this winter - vowing the Government will not let down Brits again.

Just two years after David Cameron was panned for his slow reaction to flooding in Somerset, the PM unveiled details of the biggest winter resilience package yet.

 Three army battalions are being put on permanent standby in the North, Midlands and South of the country
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Three army battalions are being put on permanent standby in the North, Midlands and South of the countryCredit: Alamy

For the first time, three army battalions are being put on permanent standby in the North, Midlands and South of the country until at least the end of January.

They will be tasked with manning flood barriers, engineering and the evacuation of stricken homeowners.

More 100 national specialist flood rescue teams are also being put on standby across the country, including 500 specially-trained Environment Agency flood support officers.

 The PM does not want to repeated the mistakes of David Cameron, who was panned for his slow reaction to the flooding
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The PM does not want to repeated the mistakes of David Cameron, who was panned for his slow reaction to the floodingCredit: Getty Images
 Cabinet Office minister Ben Gummer says the government wants to keep people 'safe, warm and healthy' in the winter
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Cabinet Office minister Ben Gummer says the government wants to keep people 'safe, warm and healthy' in the winterCredit: Reuters
 Somerset was devastated by flooding two years ago and the government were slow to respond
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Somerset was devastated by flooding two years ago and the government were slow to respondCredit: Getty Images

The Government has also stockpiled 1.7 million tonnes of salt for England's roads - 500,000 more than 2010-2011. And there will be a new freephone number - 105 - for households hit by power cuts.

Cabinet Office Minister Ben Gummer said: "We want to make sure that people across the United Kingdom keep safe, warm and healthy this winter.

"That is why we are working together to prepare for all that winter may bring, from providing flu vaccinations to specialist equipment and resources to deal with winter flooding.

"With the army standing by, we have the most comprehensive winter plan yet to keep people safe and the country moving.”

The Government has been caught out by floods in each of the past two years - sparking an outcry over the lack of funding for defences.

In 2014, David Cameron was forced to call in the army amid fury over the Government's slow reaction to the disastrous flooding of the Somerset Levels.

Parts of the levels had been underwater for weeks over the Christmas break.

 The army eventually had to be sent in to salvage the situation
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The army eventually had to be sent in to salvage the situationCredit: Getty Images
 To avoid a repeat, the Government has also stockpiled 1.7 million tonnes of salt for England's roads
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To avoid a repeat, the Government has also stockpiled 1.7 million tonnes of salt for England's roadsCredit: Getty Images
 Flooding also hit parts of South London last month
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Flooding also hit parts of South London last month
 And commuters were left shocked at these scenes at railway stations
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And commuters were left shocked at these scenes at railway stations
 Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom announced plans for £12.5 million-worth of cash for temporary flood defence in the winter
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Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom announced plans for £12.5 million-worth of cash for temporary flood defence in the winterCredit: Alamy

The MoD sent in military planners from the Army and the Royal Navy and amphibious landing craft, likely to be crewed by the Royal Marines, would be part of any assistance package.

Last year David Cameron urged Brits to holiday in the north after severe flooding in Cumbria. He promptly went to Lanzarote for an Easter break.

Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom announced plans for £12.5 million-worth of cash for temporary flood defences.

The Government has separately committed to spending £2.5 billion on 1,500 projects to reduce the flood risk for 300,000 households by 2021.

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