Homes and businesses damaged during the floods will be given financial help by Elmbridge Council.

The council has set up a hardship fund for those without insurance cover and applicants will be looked at on a case-by-case basis.

The money will comes from the new homes bonus from the 2013/14 budget, with up to 25 per cent of the £2m pot put aside for flood victims.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, February 12, Councillor John O’Reilly, leader of the council, said the money “can and should be used to help our residents who are not insured”.

Coun O’Reilly said: “Elmbridge Council is sympathetic to the circumstances that those residents affected by the floods are experiencing.

“We are committed to doing as much as we can to support our communities through what has been a challenging period.”

The council has also pledged to help council tax payers who fled their homes due to flooding if their insurance will not meet the cost of council tax while their property is uninhabitable.