SINCE the floods hit the Somerset levels at Christmas, and storms destroyed the sea wall in Aberystwyth, it was obvious we were on the way to a season of major weather disasters.

But the cries for help were met with silence. Government ministers fell over each other to shift the blame to the Environment Agency, Labour, anyone but themselves.

They refused to reverse the massive cuts to the environment budget, and it took four weeks for the Prime Minister to make a brief visit and give his usual soundbites.

Then he and his government suffered a cruel blow. Flood waters reached Windsor and the playing fields of Eton, and within a week, water was lapping at the whole of the Tory heartland.

Suddenly, there was a bottomless pit of money available. Insurance companies were under pressure, government ministers scurried back and forth to the flooded areas.

“Whatever it takes” was the password.

Mr Cameron, invest in tackling the long-term challenges of global warming and rebuild our coastal defences – whatever it takes.

Ray Davies Pandy Road Caerphilly