FLOOD-HIT households in Herefordshire are not eligible for the £5,000 grant announced by the Government following the severe autumn weather.

Government funding was made available through local authorities from the end of November in the wake of severe flooding in parts of Yorkshire and the Midlands.

The grants are there to help those affected pay for property improvements to protect them from future flooding.

But despite many Herefordshire homes and businesses being wrecked as rivers burst their banks and caused widespread flooding at the end of October, locals look set to miss out.

Polly Ernest, whose East Friars B&B in Hereford was hit by flooding, has had to leave her property and doesn’t expect to be back for nine months.

“People have been homeless since October 27,” she said.

“In my case, the cost to repair my property will be in the tens if not hundreds of thousands of pounds.

“Luckily, the insurance will pay out, but they will only put the property back to how it was.

“The £5,000 grant is there for property owners to protect their homes from future flooding. But why are we missing out on the resilience grant. It’s a case of ‘Wherefordshire’ again.”

She said local MP Jesse Norman was elected on a promise to provide a stronger voice for the county.

Mrs Ernest hopes he will secure flood prevention grants for locals.

Herefordshire Council offers £500 to each affected household and will provide a grant of up to £2,500 for some businesses.