Cornwall Council will issue free sandbags to households who are affected or at risk of flooding from this morning.

The process of filling and distributing the bags will take some time, but the council will be using all of its resources and those of partner agencies to make sure that sandbags and flood prevention advice is available to any household at risk as soon as possible.

Geoff Brown, cabinet member for homes and communities, said:" The previous policy of the council, agreed by the last administration, was that the council would not provide sandbags, free or otherwise. It advised residents to purchase them for domestic use. This has been adhered to and, contrary to reports, the council has not sold sandbags to any residents."

"We have now been able to get assurances from media reports of the Prime Minister's speech and from the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, during his visit to Cornwall last night that the government will fully reimburse councils for providing sandbags. We are grateful for that assurance after some considerable uncertainty."