A TOTAL of £45,000 has been paid out in grants to households affected by the extreme flooding last November and December. In all, over 180 grants of £250 were paid out to flood hit families.

In a statement, Gloucestershire County Council, who set up the Flood Relief Fund last November by Cllr Mark Hawthorne and unanimously supported by the Council Cabinet, said that some 20% of the grant aid had been paid out to people in Lydbrook, with Tirley, Cirencester and Stroud amongst the other areas receiving a large number of grants.

Cllr Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council said: "I'm pleased this fund made such a difference to people affected by the floods of late last year.

"I am very grateful to Gloucestershire Community Foundation for getting the pay-outs to people so quickly, to help them to replace their most essential items.

He added: "Gloucestershire County Council has had an on-going commitment to flood alleviation and supporting flood victims since 2007. That's why I pledged up to £50,000 to support people affected by flooding."

The County Council has spent around £20 million on flood alleviation work since 2007.