MORE help is at hand for devastated flood victims - with the promise that householders struggling to get insurance will no longer be ignored.

Worcester MP Robin Walker has been told a new world-first scheme to guarantee cover for flood-stricken properties will be in operation "no later" than April 2016.

The promise, direct from MPs working underneath DEFRA (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) is a vital step in protecting the most vulnerable of householders.

In recent years, including after Worcestershire's nightmare floods of 2007 and then February 2014, many homeowners have found it difficult to find proper insurance due to the premiums.

It means many households either go without cover or struggle to sell up because of it.

After pressure from MPs Government ministers have been working with the industry to develop a spin-off body to guarantee people a right to affordable insurance.

As a result 'Flood Re', a not-for-profit body, is being created which will allow insurers to pass the risk element of a policy into a fund that will pay any potential claim.

MP Rory Stewart, parliamentary under secretary of state for the environment, has now told Mr Walker it will be up and running by April next year.

It has also secured state aid clearance, employed a broker, board members and senior managers, and has nearly finished developing its IT systems and processes with the aim of launching next spring.

Flood campaigner Mary Dhonau, who now runs a consultancy, said: "I've been a big supporter of this since its inception, because after the floods I always get calls from people struggling to get affordable insurance.

"It's going to be based on people's council tax too, so people in band A, for example, pay a lot less than those in higher bands, it's based on affordability.

"It's been slow to come online and of course that's disappointing but I'd much rather it go online a bit later and work, be fit-for-purpose than start now and not work."

Mr Walker said: "This is very good news.

"It's been a long time in the offing and now it's there, it should mean that even people who were having difficulties getting insurance can get it."

The Government says it has taken serious efforts to secure agreement from the insurance industry.

Mr Stewart said:"It is important that 'Flood Re' and the wider industry get all of this right."

The scheme is the first of its type in the world, with other EU nations expected to follow.