The chairman of the Environment Agency has said he wished he had returned earlier from a Christmas holiday in Barbados to help deal with flooding in northern England.
Sir Philip Dilley has faced criticism for holidaying in the Caribbean over Christmas while more flooding hit parts of England, and for a statement put out by the Environment Agency suggesting he was at home with his family.
There is no such thing as 100 per cent flood-proof, the Environment Agency's chief executive has warned MPs - but insisted they could mitigate risk.
Giving evidence to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Sir James Bevan added that they wanted to work with local communities to allow them to take ownership of their own flood risk.
The water's gone and the politicians have started arguing, writes Martin Geissler - but what next for those left devastated by the floods?
Environment Agency boss Sir Philip Dilley is to be quizzed by MPs about the recent flooding.