More than 4,000 English flood defences ‘poor or very poor’, analysis finds

Exclusive: Hundreds of defences are in areas battered by Storm Babet, according to analysis by UnearthedMore than 4,000 of England’s vital flood defences are so damaged they are almost useless, including hundreds in areas battered by Storm Babet.Nearly 800 critical assets – defined as those where there is a high risk to life and property – were in a “poor” or “very poor” condition in the 10 English counties worst affected by last week’s historic downpours.