The government and local authorities should take flood protection more seriously, the official report on last summer's flooding is expected to say.

The independent review by Sir Michael Pitt, commissioned by ministers, is set to contain more than 70 proposals.

Last December, in his interim report into lessons learned, he said the UK was not properly prepared for floods.

The 2007 deluge left 13 dead and saw 44,600 homes flooded, with Yorkshire and the Midlands among the worst hit.

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BBC Environment Correspondent Sarah Mukherjee said: "Sir Michael is also said to be exercised by the fact that thousands of people are still out of their homes a year after the floods. He thinks this is unacceptable."

She added that he is likely to say councils, housing associations and insurers should make sure that these houses are "properly flood-proofed" before people return to them.

The report is expected to concentrate on a few main topics, such as the fact that urban drainage systems were overwhelmed last year.

He may suggest flood prevention organisations need to work more closely together.

But it is not just authorities who are likely to be criticised in the report.

Laser system

Sir Michael is expected to say some members of the public did not take flood warnings seriously enough.

However, he is also set to say that future warnings should be made in clear language that is easy to understand.

Earlier this month, a report by the Fire Brigades Union revealed that fire crews are going without flood equipment such as lifejackets, waterproofs and boots, one year on from the summer deluge.

But the government said it had spent £200m on specialist equipment.

And the Environment Agency recently said a national effort was needed to tackle the vulnerability of buildings such as power stations and hospitals to flooding.

It warned that ministers, councils and utility firms need to act.

It also said it had completed 34 flood defences, helping more than 30,000 homes, since last year's downpour.

It is mapping the country using a new laser system to identify in detail those areas most at risk.

(BBC)

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