COMMUNITIES affected by the devastating floods will have the chance to speak directly to authorities and agencies at a series of drop-in sessions next week.

Organised by Devon County Council and the Environment Agency, with support from Mid Devon District Council and South West Water, the events will be an opportunity for residents and businesses to raise their concerns and explain the problems they encountered.

It will also give the councils and the Environment Agency the opportunity to gather information about the flooding incidents.

Residents who attend the sessions are encouraged to bring along any photographs, video clips or notes taken during the flooding in their area. Laptops will be available to download information.

The drop-in sessions will be held at Feniton in the village hall on Monday, December 3 from 3pm-7pm, at the Hayridge Centre in Cullompton on Thursday, December 6 from 12 noon-7pm and at the Kenn Centre in Kennford on Friday, December 7 from 12 noon-7pm.

Buckfastleigh will also be included once a date and venue have been confirmed. The events follow a series of successful surgeries held in the aftermath of severe flooding in July, which mostly affected East Devon and South Hams Communities, including Axminster, Modbury and Harbertonford.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, chairman of the devon flood risk management partnership and Devon county councillor for highways and transportation, said: “Our sympathies are with all those affected by these atrocious conditions. “Communities have had their lives turned upside down by this recent flooding and while we are all left facing the prospect of months of disruption, we obviously hope everyone can get back to normality as soon as possible. “With the sheer volume of rainfall in such a short space of time it’s difficult to say what could have been done to prevent such widespread flooding but lessons can always be learned. “We’re here to listen and we hope people will take the opportunity of attending these drop-in events to tell us what their concerns are, what they saw happen and what the response was.”