Prince Charles to visit flood-hit areas in UK

The Prince of Wales will visit a Cornish community devastated by flooding to support those affected by the deluge today.

Charles will meet business leaders to discuss how they can help the region recover during his trip to the Lostwithiel area.

A spokeswoman for the Prince said: “Charles wants to lend his support to the people who have been affected and he hopes that, by taking some business leaders down there, they can help.”

Workmen were yesterday putting cars which were damaged in the floods on to low loaders while also cleaning away the inch-thick mud left by the receding water.

About 100 homes were evacuated by the emergency services after Devon and Cornwall Police declared a “major incident”.

The heavy rains and gale-force winds brought misery to St Austell, Lostwithiel, St Blazey, Bodmin, Par, Mevagissey and Luxulyan.

There were no reports of serious injuries but scores of residents were evacuated from their homes, schools closed, the transport network hugely disrupted and train services stopped by a landslide at Lostwithiel.

As a precaution, police closed the 700-year-old bridge over the River Fowey in the town as it had been battered for several hours by flood water and there were fears it might give way under the strain.