More military personnel have been called on to support multi-agency flood relief operations.

As the floods continue to cause disruption across the UK, personnel from the Army Reserve (as well as the Royal Marines and Royal Navy) have been working hard to provide flood relief assistance.

Yesterday, Prime Minister David Cameron visited Chesil Beach in Portland to see the work being done by the Environment Agency, the local authorities and 39 Engineer Regiment.

Adverse weather and high tides have resulted in a breach of the beach’s flood defences.

Ready to assist

Engineers from 53 Field Squadron delivered military bulldozers, diggers and excavators to assist the Environment Agency in rebuilding the flood defences.

Troop commander Lieutenant Greg Vinall-Hough said: “We happened to be in the area on a routine exercise when we got the call [yesterday] afternoon. We are now using our equipment to enhance that of the Environment Agency and we are ready to assist when required.

“Being from the south west myself, I am very happy to be down here, supporting local residents in any way that we can.”

The weekend also saw reservist soldiers of 7th Battalion The Rifles join members of the Royal Navy from HMS Sultan and HMS Collingwood as they manhandled over 6,000 sandbags to dam a roadway in Windsor.

And in Reading, the reservists teamed up with members of Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service to dam a breach in the Kennet and Avon Canal that threatened an electrical substation.

Original article written by and sourced from – army.mod.uk