PEOPLE in the North-East, especially Northumbria, cannot forget the devastation, damage and loss of life that was caused by the floods that wreaked havoc a couple of years ago.

However, when people were trying to salvage their belongings and hope the insurance companies would pay up I never heard anyone from the Government say: “Don’t worry about the cost, money is no object.” However David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Eric Pickles (can someone please pinch Mr Pickles to wake him up, he always looks asleep) have spent a great deal of money on the south.

So far they have pledged £10m for farmers, £5,000 each for householders, £31m for infrastructure on one section of railway alone that has been subject to a landslide and £30m for road repairs.

That amounts to more than £71m.

What the North-East got was: help to assemble temporary roads and bridges from the Army, loss of life, threats from insurance companies, horrendous memories and very little Government help.

Why, in a crisis, do MPs and the Royal family visit these areas? Have they not seen water?

They should turn on the tap.

Anyone who says there’s no such thing as the North-South Divide is talking garbage.

Peter C Clark, Sherburn Hill.