The government is being urged to reform a “nightmare” system designed to help victims of flooding rebuild their homes and businesses, following an Unearthed investigation.

Credit: Wes Warren

The Property Flood Resilience (PFR) grant is supposed to award flood victims up to £5,000 to allow them to rebuild and flood proof their homes and businesses. But Unearthed found that in some parts of the country, less than half of applicants received any money.

Lynn Shortt lives in Attleborough, Norfolk. After her home flooded at Christmas 2020, she applied for a PFR grant but heard nothing for over a year. “It was the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever seen,” she said. “All our belongings on the ground floor were covered in filth and most were destroyed.”

Here’s the story – and coverage in the Guardian.