Pistorius 'In Love' With Reeva: Exclusive

Reeva Steenkamp: The Girl Behind The Name

Updated: 2:00pm UK, Friday 28 February 2014

Reeva Steenkamp was born in the South African city of Cape Town in August 1983, to horse trainer Barry Steenkamp and his second wife, June.

The family later moved to Port Elizabeth where she and her siblings grew up.

She attended St Dominic's Priory High School and, at the age of 15, entered a beauty competition organised through her local newspaper where she was spotted by the paper's then beauty editor, Barbara Robertson

"She was 15, and a young 15," Ms Robertson told Sky News.

"There was nothing sophisticated about her. She was sweet, down to earth, earthy ... just one of those girls who had the 'it' factor ... a little bit (of an) early Kate Moss."

While friends speak of an ultimate desire to marry and have a family, the young woman always expected to enjoy a career of her own.

She took a law degree in case her modelling career did not work out.

But the modelling side took off and the gauche, unsophisticated girl from Port Elizabeth moved on to Johannesburg to seek her success.

Originally a brunette, Steenkamp dyed her hair blonde and soon after broke into the glossy world of magazine modelling.

She made the cover of FHM but, said Ms Robertson, the model remained true to herself.

"The front pages made out she was this brazen blonde with boobs hanging out," she said in an interview with The Guardian.

"She was more than a model. She was Reeva. She had studied law at university. I don't think she was seeking bright lights and fame and fortune.

"She was spreading her wings. If she got noticed, what's wrong with that? It doesn't make her a celeb-seducer."

While she continued modelling and was popular on South Africa's A-list circuit, Steenkamp's legal ambitions appeared to resurface.

The future looked bright as she applied to the Bar in 2011, hoping to qualify as a legal advocate by 2013.

Her TV career also looked promising, with a part in a reality TV show Tropika Island of Treasure that looked likely to lead to further opportunities in her professional life.

In November 2012, she began going out with Oscar Pistorius and the couple were said to be deeply in love.

Three months later, Reeva Steenkamp was dead.

:: Sky News will have live coverage of the trial from Monday, with a special highlights programme at 9.30pm.

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Moazzam Begg Charged With Terror Offences

Ex-Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg has been charged with providing terrorist training and funding terrorism overseas, West Midlands Police have said.

The 45-year-old British citizen, from Hall Green, Birmingham, was one of four people arrested earlier this week on suspicion of terrorism offences linked to the Syria conflict.

He will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court today alongside a woman, Gerrie Tahari, 44, of Sparkbrook, Birmingham, who is charged with facilitating terrorism overseas.

Both were arrested on Tuesday with two other men held on suspicion of facilitating terrorism overseas.

The pair - a 36-year-old man from Shirley, Solihull, and a 20-year-old man from Sparkhill, Birmingham, who is the son of Tahari - remain in police custody.

Begg was released from Guantanamo Bay in January 2005

Begg was held by the US government at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba for nearly three years after being arrested in Pakistan in February 2002.

He was detained on suspicion of being a member of al Qaeda before being released without charge in January 2005.

He was allowed to return to the UK where he was arrested by police before being released without charge.

Begg is a director of Cage - which campaigns "against the War on Terror" - and has always maintained that he has never been involved in any kind of terrorist activity.

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Ukraine Says Russia Has Sent In 6,000 Troops

Ukraine's Defence Minister says Russia has sent 6,000 troops into the country.

The country's military are on high alert in the Crimea region, as tensions continued to rise.

US President Barack Obama has warned Moscow that any military intervention in Ukraine would be "deeply destabilising".

But Russia, which has a naval base in Crimea, says any military movements are in line with agreements with Ukraine.

Ukraine's Prime Minister said his country would not be drawn into a military conflict by Russian "provocations", and appealed to Moscow to halt military movements in the region.

Arseny Yatseniuk said: "It is unacceptable when armoured Russian military vehicles are out in the centre of Ukrainian towns."

It came as the pro-Russian Prime Minister of Crimea Sergei Aksenov, appealed to Russia for help in keeping the peace there, and claimed control of all military, police and other security services in the region.

And the Kremlin said it would not ignore a request for help in restoring calm.

More follows...

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Ukraine Minister Accuses Russia Of 'Invasion'

Ukraine's interior minister has accused Russian forces of staging an "armed invasion" in Crimea.

Arsen Avakov claimed Russian forces had blocked one military air base and entered an airport overnight on the Black Sea peninsula.

The accusation comes a day after dozens of pro-Moscow gunmen seized government buildings in the Crimean capital of Simferopol.

An armed man patrols at the airport in Simferopol in Crimea

These included the regional parliament, which subsequently voted to hold a referendum on May 25 to expand the region's autonomy from Kiev.

"I consider what is happening to be an armed invasion and an occupation," Mr Avakov wrote in a statement on his Facebook page. 

Earlier, Russia reaffirmed its pledge to "respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine", despite placing fighter jets on combat alert along the countries' shared border.

Mr Kerry called on Russia to work with the US

The pledge came after US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov amid ongoing tension in Ukraine.

Mr Kerry sought assurances from Mr Lavrov that Russia would work with the United States to create unity in Ukraine.

"I asked specifically that Russia work with the United States and our friends and allies in order to support Ukraine to rebuild unity, security and a healthy economy," Mr Kerry told reporters.

Russian forces have been accused of an 'occupation' and 'invasion'

Mr Lavrov reaffirmed President Vladimir Putin's statement that Russia "will respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine," Mr Kerry added.

Mr Lavrov also denied that Moscow had any hand in the takeover of government buildings in the Crimea, over which a Russian flag was hoisted on Thursday.

Pictures show armed men patrolling the grounds of Simferopol Airport in the Crimea.

The White House has reinforced its warnings to Russia that it must avoid "miscalculations" in military drills along the border of Ukraine.

The comments appeared to reflect Washington's concern that Russian manoeuvres near the ex-Soviet state could trigger events which may get out of control.

Mr Kerry said his Russian counterpart had assured him that the exercises were long-planned and had nothing to do with the fast-moving events in Ukraine.

Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has reportedly announced that he will hold a press conference today in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.

The parliament building has been seized in Simferopol

Mr Yanukovych has reportedly been spotted in a luxury five-star hotel and spa outside Moscow, in an exclusive enclave favoured by Russia's super-rich.

The 63-year-old fugitive, who is wanted in Ukraine on charges of mass murder after police opened fire on demonstrators, released a statement on Thursday insisting he is still president.

Mr Yanukovych and his government are facing charges of stripping Ukraine's coffers bare before they were toppled from power.

Mr Lavrov says Russia will respect Ukraine's territorial integrity

Shortly before being appointed as head of the crisis-hit country's national unity government, Arseny Yatseniuk said $37bn (£22bn) had disappeared in an "unknown direction", while $70bn (£42bn) had been siphoned out of the economy into offshore accounts.

But Russia has questioned the legitimacy of the new Ukrainian authorities and has pledged to defend the rights of its "compatriots".

Crimea is an autonomous republic in the south of Ukraine, around 500 miles from the capital Kiev.

There have been mounting signs of separatism in the region, which has strong ties to Moscow and where the majority of the population are Russian speakers.

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'Boiler Room Fraud' Smashed In Police Raids

Suspected fraudsters who led extravagant lifestyles like Leonardo DiCaprio's character in hit film Wolf of Wall Street by conning victims out of millions of pounds have been targeted in an international clampdown.

Police swooped in a series of raids stretching from London and Barcelona to the US and Serbia in a move to smash the so-called boiler room fraud, where investors are duped into buying worthless or non-existent shares.

A total of 110 alleged fraudsters were held in what was one of the biggest anti-fraud operations ever staged.

To date, 850 British victims, many of them pensioners and one of whom killed themselves after being defrauded, have been identified.

They lost a total of around £15m - ranging from between £2,000 and £500,000 per person - but police believe this figure is only "the tip of the iceberg" and suspect thousands more people may have been duped.

A suspect's lavish home in Marbella, Spain. Pic: City of London Police

The operation, which was two years in the making, saw 40 officers from City of London Police join 300 of their Spanish counterparts from the Policia Nacional to target a number of organised crime gangs.

It aimed to take out criminal kingpins, as well as scores of conmen who work for them, including lawyers, money launderers and financiers.

The alleged fraudsters spent their ill-gotten gains on sports cars, designer watches, drugs and prostitutes.

One of the suspects was believed to be paying £40,000 per month to rent an apartment.

An Aston Martin and Ferrari were among the cars seized by police, along with various watches and £500,000 in cash.

One suspect wrapped watches around his slippers

The raids took place earlier this week but can only now be revealed after a reporting ban was lifted by a Spanish judge.

Speaking near the site of one of the searches in Barcelona on Tuesday, City of London Police Commander Steve Head said: "You see real victims in real communities whose lives have been devastated. Savings that they thought they could rely on in their old age have gone in a heartbeat."

He added: "These people have no conscience in terms of what they do to people's lives. This is not at all a victimless crime. We've seen lives that have been utterly devastated.

"We have dismantled an international network of fraudsters. Make no mistake, this will make a difference to the ability of fraudsters to operate at this level.

"This network has been dismantled, hopefully we have sent a message to those who think that it's an easy crime that it doesn't matter where you are, we will come after you."

Expensive cars including a Ferrari and an Aston Martin were confiscated

In total, the international team executed 35 warrants on offices from where the fraud is said to have been run, as well as the alleged criminals' luxury homes.

The operation closed down 14 boiler rooms in Spain, two in the UK and one in Serbia.

As well as the fraud, the gangs were also allegedly involved in drug dealing, money laundering and gun crime.

Most of the suspects targeted are British and a main group is expected to be extradited back to the UK to face trial.

Commissioner Jose Luis Andre Vega from the Spanish national police, said: "This sort of crime knows no frontiers or boundaries. It's important to investigate this sort of organised crime on an international level."

Of the 110 arrests, there were 84 in Spain, 20 in the UK, two in the United States and four in Serbia, with most of the suspects arrested on suspicion of money laundering and fraud offences.

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Pistorius At Gun Range: Exclusive Pictures

Blade Runner's Best Friend's Call

Updated: 8:24pm UK, Sunday 17 February 2013

The best friend of Oscar Pistorius has told how the athlete rang him the night his girlfriend was shot and said: "I've killed my Baba. God take me away."

Justin Divaris, who introduced Reeva Steenkamp to the South African gold medallist, said Pistorius was crying down the phone and admitted he had shot the 29-year-old model.

Mr Divaris, 27, said: "Oscar called me at 3.55am saying that Reeva had been shot. I said to him, 'What are you talking about? I don't understand you'.

"He then repeated himself - 'There has been a terrible accident. I shot Reeva'."

Mr Divaris told the Sunday People that he then spoke to a neighbour who was also in the house, who warned: "She's not OK. You need to get here."

By the time he arrived at Pistorius' house on a gated estate in Pretoria, the double amputee was already being held by police.

He could see Miss Steenkamp's body inside the house at the bottom of the stairs, covered in blankets and towels.

Pistorius - nicknamed the Blade Runner due to his high-tech artificial limbs - was being detained in the garage, and was crying and repeating himself incoherently.

The 26-year-old appeared in court on Friday accused of premeditated murder over the shooting on Valentine's Day.

His agent, Peet van Zyl, said he had cancelled all the races in which the South African athlete had been "contracted to compete in".

Speaking of sponsors, Mr van Zyl said all parties had been supportive and contractual commitments would be maintained.

Pistorius is being held in custody and his family has said he denies murder in the strongest possible terms.

Miss Steenkamp's father Barry has also now spoken publicly for the first time and said he does not hate Pistorius for what happened.

He told The Mail on Sunday he was struggling "to find some reason why this happened to our lovely daughter".

Talking about Pistorius, he said: "He must be going through things that we don't know about. There is no hatred in our hearts."

He said he and his wife June were "at a complete loss," adding: "June is inconsolable. We just need to find some answers.

"Reeva was the most beautiful, kind girl in the world. She had love for everyone and was loved by everyone who knew her."

Mr Steenkamp said he had never met Pistorius but his wife had occasionally spoken to him on the phone.

The athlete's own father Henke has also spoken out, saying his son must have acted "on instinct".

Mr Pistorius said he has "zero doubt" that it was a tragic accident and said he believes she was mistaken for an intruder.

His family is behind him "heart and soul" and will do "whatever needs to be done" to help him clear his name, he told The Sunday Telegraph.

Their comments came after a reality show featuring Miss Steenkamp was broadcast despite controversy over its airing.

Tropika Island of Treasures showed the model laughing and joking with her fellow contestants and swimming with dolphins.

In an interview, the model - who was also the face of cosmetics giant Avon in South Africa - spoke about the importance of leaving a positive mark in life.

She said: "I think the way that you go out, not just your journey in life, but the way that you go out and the way you make your exit is so important.

"You either made an impact in a positive or a negative way, but just maintain integrity and maintain class and just remain true to yourself."

Pistorius became an international icon after becoming the first double amputee to compete in the Olympics last year. He also won a gold medal in the Paralympics.

He had both of his legs amputated below the knee when he was less than a year old and had campaigned for years to be allowed to compete on an equal level.

The athlete will be back in court on Tuesday when his lawyers are expected to attempt to get his charge downgrade and argue for his release on bail.

His girlfriend's funeral is scheduled for the same day.

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Crimea: Armed Men Seize Parliament Building

Armed men have seized the parliament building and the regional government headquarters in the Ukrainian region of Crimea and hoisted Russian flags, according to officials.

In a dawn raid, up to 50 gunmen in combat fatigues stormed the buildings in the regional capital of Simferopol.

Ukraine's interim interior minister Arsen Avakov said security forces had been put on alert and the area cordoned off "to prevent bloodshed".

The parliament building has been seized in Simferopol

And Ukraine's acting president Oleksandr Turchinov has appealed for calm, and branded the armed raiders as "criminals in military fatigues".

Crimea is an autonomous republic in the south of Ukraine, around 500 miles from the capital Kiev.

The men occupying the buildings are reported to be wearing black and orange ribbons - a Russian symbol of victory in World War Two.

They have erected barricades, and put up signs saying: "Crimea is Russian".

The move comes amid mounting signs of separatism in the region which has strong ties to Moscow, and where the majority of the population are Russian speakers.

On Wednesday there was a confrontation between pro-Russia separatists and ethnic Tatars, who support Ukraine's new leaders, outside the parliament building.

The Russian flag is flying over the parliament

Russia has questioned the legitimacy of the new Ukrainian authorities, and has pledged to defend the rights of its "compatriots".

It would react "uncompromisingly" if these were violated, the foreign ministry said in a statement. 

President Vladimir Putin has put the military on alert for major exercises, and announced measures to tighten security at the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea.

It came as Russia confirmed it will take part in talks on an International Monetary Fund (IMF) financial package for Ukraine, where the economic situation continues to worsen after months of unrest.

Debt-hit Ukraine has said it needs $35bn (£21bn) over the next two years to avoid bankruptcy.

The European Commission says Russia should be included in efforts to provide financial assistance.

Barricades have been erected by the gunmen

"All I can say is that we will take part in discussions (at the IMF), there is no talk of standing aside," said Andrei Bokarev, head of the finance ministry's international relations department.

Ukraine has also seen continuous devaluation of its currency amid the political upheaval, which led to President Viktor Yanukovych being toppled.

He is now a fugitive, wanted in connection with the deaths of around 100 people during the recent violence.

Ukraine's new government is expected to be formally approved by parliament on Thursday, and faces the hugely complex task of restoring stability in the country.

More follows...

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RBS Confirms £8.2bn Loss And New Revival Plan

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has reported a loss of £8.2bn - its biggest since the year it was bailed out by the taxpayer - and announced plans to help restore customer trust.

The loss for 2013 included its previously-announced provisions for mistakes of the past, which continue to haunt RBS and the rest of the UK banking industry in the wake of the financial crisis.

Ross McEwan, RBS chief executive, said the loss was "sobering" and "huge" and promised reform would turn around not only its financial fortunes but also its treatment of the customer.

Ross McEwan is restructuting RBS

Its share price fell 4% when the FTSE 100 opened for business.

The bank confirmed new cost savings of £5bn over the next four years - reported earlier by Sky News - with its focus shifting back to the UK and further away from investment banking.

It was its investment arm that accounted for most of its bonus pool for 2013, which had shrunk by 15% to £576m, though the scene was set for further reductions in later years as RBS said it would concentrate on serving personal and business customers.

The bank also announced it was lifting its proportion of UK assets to 80% of its business from 60% under pressure from the Government, which still holds a stake of over 80% in the lender, to concentrate on supporting the UK's economic recovery.

Mr McEwan said his revival plan would make the bank "smaller, simpler and smarter," shrinking from seven divisions to three.

He has not put a figure on the potential number of job losses his plans would entail.

The overhaul of its service and products for retail customers will see the Group outlaw different product rates for branch and online customers from mid-March.

Among its other pledges were bans on teaser rates for any product and an end to 0% balance transfers for credit cards.

The revival plan is designed to help get the bank into a position where it could return to private hands - likely to be some years away.

Following confirmation of the loss and bonus figures the deputy prime minister Nick Clegg told Sky News that RBS was a "loss-making bank" on a "life support system funded by the general public."

Mr McEwan defended the bonus handouts, saying: "We need to keep people engaged in the job they do all day every day - from the high street to those in our markets business in the United States.

"We need to pay these people fairly in the marketplace to do the job."

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Rigby's Mum 'Collapsed' After Killers Brawl

Lee Rigby's mother collapsed and needed medical treatment after the dramatic sentencing hearing that saw her son's raging killers bundled out of court by guards.

Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale exploded with anger after judge Mr Justice Sweeney said they had betrayed Islam when they hacked the soldier to death near Woolwich barracks.

The pair were taken to their cells where they continued screaming, and the judge sentenced them in their absence.

Afterwards, Mrs Rigby said her legs "went from underneath me", and an ambulance was called.

Paramedics checked her blood pressure, before deciding she was well enough to return home.

The 47-year-old told The Sun newspaper: "This was the final insult to Lee. It was like they were jumping all over his grave.

"As they started fighting all I could think was that was how it must have been as they hacked and killed my son. I tried to block out the noises and shouting by covering my ears.

"There was so much banging and chaos. I felt so ill I thought I was going to die. I screamed out and the police rushed to protect me and my family.

"I was terrified the glass screen around the dock was going to smash and I couldn't even breathe properly.

"Even when they were dragged downstairs I could still hear them screaming.

"I don't think I have ever felt so frightened. But I was determined to see it through to the end for Lee."

Adebolajo, 29, was given a whole-life term, and Adebowale, 22, was jailed for at least 45 years.

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Lee Rigby's Killers Could Die Behind Bars

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

The men who murdered soldier Lee Rigby will learn later if they are to spend the rest of their lives in prison.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, are due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey at 2pm for the gruesome killing outside Woolwich barracks in southeast London.

In May last year the pair ran the fusilier down in a car, leapt out and then began a sustained and frenzied attack on the motionless body of the solider.

During the trial the jury was told "Michael Adebolajo made a serious and almost successful attempt to decapitate him".

Adebolajo argued in court he was a "soldier of Allah" acting as part of a wider conflict between the West and the Islamic world.

Growing up in and around London, Adebolajo and Adebowale had both been involved in gang crime, drugs and then, at different times, converted to Islam.

Adebolajo travelled to Kenya in 2010 hoping to get to Somalia, but was detained by the authorities and deported back to Britain.

Authorities are looking to see if the murder could have been prevented

He was being tracked by the UK security services and had resisted efforts to try to persuade him to work with intelligence agents.

The jury at the murder trial were unanimous in their guilty verdicts over the murder, but cleared Adebolajo and Adebowale of attempting to murder a police officer in the aftermath of the attack.

Dramatic footage was played in court showing how Adebolajo sprinted at armed officers with a knife held aloft - with such an immediate threat an officer opened fire from the back seat and Adebolajo fell just yards from the police team.

The trial ended on December 19, but sentencing was delayed until a ruling at the Court of Appeal over the validity of whole life tariffs where prisoners expect to die in prison.

Last week a ruling backed the legality of the whole life tariff and it is understood to be one of the options open to the judge when he passes sentence on Adebolajo and Adebowale this afternoon. 

An Intelligence and Security Committee in Westminster is also examining whether any opportunities to prevent the murder were missed by the authorities.

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NHS Staff Should Be Trained To Spot Abuse

Action To Tackle Domestic Violence

Updated: 8:48am UK, Wednesday 26 February 2014

Nice has published new guidance which aims to help identify, prevent and reduce domestic violence and abuse. Measures include:

:: Special training for health professionals to recognise the signs of domestic violence and to ask questions.

:: This includes doctors, nurses, paramedics, dentists, youth and social care workers, receptionists, therapists, interpreters, care assistants, midwives, health visitors, paediatricians, school nurses and prison staff.

:: Making inquiries in private and on a one-to-one basis in a safe environment and sensitive manner.

:: Training to ensure staff are able to give expert advice and support to victims.

:: Support in settings where people may be identified or disclose they are victims of domestic violence or abuse.

:: This includes A&E departments, GP surgeries, refuges, clinics, rape, alcohol or drug misuse and abortion clinics.

:: Information in different languages in waiting areas and other suitable places about the support on offer.

:: This includes details of local and national helplines for victims and support groups.

:: Provision of information in braille, audio and large font sizes, as well as discreetly on pens and keyrings.

:: Prioritising victims' safety by ensuring they and the perpetrators are kept separate from each other.

:: Regularly assessing their situation to provide short and long-term help.

:: Action to address the emotional, psychological and physical impact of abuse on children.

:: Specialist help to prevent forced marriages and 'honour' violence.

:: Also help for men, gay, bisexual, transgender and stalking abuse victims.

:: Councils, police, schools and colleges and other organisations working together to tackle the issue.

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Flood Spending Claim Contradicted By Watchdog

PM Pledges Help On Visit To 'Biblical' Floods

Updated: 2:24am UK, Saturday 08 February 2014

David Cameron has told residents of flood-hit Somerset that mistakes were made in the past which have contributed to the crisis.

Speaking following widespread criticism of the Government's response to the crisis, the Prime Minister said it was "wrong" to stop dredging in the Levels in the 1990s, adding: "We need to get dredging again."

His first visit to the region since the floods began late last year came after that of Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith, who insisted he was very proud of the body's work.

"Clearly people here faced a tough time and continue to face a tough time and that's why we've got to do everything we can to help," Mr Cameron said as he visited a flooded farm in Fordgate.

"Everything that can be done, will be done and I'll make sure that happens. There are always lessons to learn and I'll make sure they are learned.

"I've said that when the water-levels are down and it's safe to dredge, to make sure that these rivers and these ditches can carry a better capacity of water."

Mr Cameron wore wellington boots as he walked round Tony Davy's farm and met fire service workers pumping from the property.

He described the scene at the frarm, where the water was knee-high, as "biblical".

The Prime Minister then visited evacuated residents at a private meeting in nearby Bridgwater.

Royal Marines were earlier drafted in to help people in Moorlands to safety after flood defences broke on Thursday night.

Lord Smith attempted to brush of criticism of the handling of the flooding, telling reporters: "I have no intention of resigning. I'm very proud of the work of the Environment Agency and its staff in the face of the most extreme weather."

"Local people have made very clear the distress they've experienced and the difficulties they've been facing."

He also said an extra £130m pledged by the Government would make a significant difference and that dredging would begin as soon as flood waters recede.

But local Conservative MP Ian Liddell-Grainger called the Environment Agency boss a "coward" and said he had not been given any details of the visit.

"I will tell him what I bloody well think of him - he should go, he should walk," he said.

"I'm livid. This little git has never even been on the telephone to me. When I find out where he is, I will give it to him."

Meanwhile, England's southern coastline looks likely to suffer more flooding as forecasters warn of large waves and strong winds.

Devon and Dorset coasts have already suffered major damage after being pummelled by the week's storms.

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