The Environment Agency is taking separate action to protect sand dune flood defences which are being eroded by the wind.

BBC: Laughton Road near Gainsborough

Planned tasks for the shovel brigade include reinforcing the spring and diverting its flow by using boulders, sand, downed trees and other flood debris.

CNN: Spotted owl could be game-changer in Tombstone water war

Flood-tide delta: accretionary deposit of sand found on the bay or river side of an inlet and usually formed by tidal currents.

UNESCO: L O S S A R Y

South Hams District Council said it had provided 1, 400 sandbags to flood-hit communities in its area, using about 27 tonnes of sand.

BBC: Homes evacuated after landslips in Devon

Sand bags and pumps were sent to homes in Reading after they flooded on Thursday, despite new flood defences being put in place this year.

BBC: Flooding affects Reading houses despite new defences

The gates which were used to keep the channels clear of sand and silt were removed and buried when the National Rivers Authority replaced the gates with a new flood protection system in 1981.

BBC: Hayle to display its old sluice gates