Capital needs stronger flood defences

London's flood defences must be strengthened significantly to combat the impact of climate change, the Government's chief scientific adviser has warned.

Professor Sir David King, who warned a Commons committee yesterday that it may take a major disaster for the world to take climate change sufficiently seriously, said the existing Thames Barrier will need to be adapted and probably supplemented with additional structures to keep flood waters at bay.

Sir David told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The very severe hot summer and drought that we had in Europe last year, it is estimated (accounted for) 30,000 fatalities.

"These extreme events are already becoming more frequent. It is a very difficult message to get through."

He continued: "In the worst case scenario, we are talking about increases in risk to property which run into £20 billion per annum at current levels, in the UK alone.

"We are talking, for example, about along some areas of the south coast of the UK, what would have been a flood event occurring once in 100 years, could rise to as much as one in three years.

"The Thames Barrier, which is currently being used considerably more frequently than when it was built, it was once in five years then, the 1980s, we are now talking about using it six times a year.

"It is good for another 20 years probably as it is. But certainly we will have to adapt the Thames Barrier, and look at further structures."

Asked whether that might mean making the Barrier higher, or building a second barrier, Sir David said: "Possibly raise it. All of these are issues that we are currently looking at."