WORCESTER is to receive a small portion of a £1.6m Government grant allocated to parts of the country still recovering from last summer's floods.

Floods Recovery Minister John Healey said Worcester City Council would be given a further £16,181 under a scheme which compensates local authorities for money they spend in emergency situations. It brings the total now received by the city under the Bellwin Scheme to £76,181.

Mr Healey said: "Last summer, we saw the worst floods in this country for more than a century. I made many visits to the affected areas, and saw for myself the extraordinary work of councils and other agencies to help and support those communities. Clearly this came at a cost to councils, and so we made it easier for them to claim back additional costs from the Government. But I am aware there is still a long way to go.

"That is why more Government support will be available - including further Bellwin payments."

City council leader Councillor Simon Geraghty told your Worcester News the extra £16,000 was extremely welcome.

He said: "Given the extremely difficult financial position the council is facing at the current time, any additional financial assistance from the Government to cover some of the emergency costs we incurred in responding to the foods is to be welcomed."