‘Fear of the next deluge’: flood-scarred Britons join forces to demand help

Flooded homes in Witney, Oxfordshire. Millions of homes and business across England are threatened by surface-water flooding, now the leading contributor to flood risk. Photograph: Handout

Darren Ridley is always on high alert, constantly checking his phone for rain warnings – even in the middle of the night.

“Our whole family is permanently on edge,” he says. “If we hear rain, day or night, we’re up and checking the house. I can’t sleep without replaying our flood plan in my head for weaknesses.”