PRIME Minister David Cameron says the Somerset Levels will be dredged 'as soon as it is practical'.

Mr Cameron made the announcement at Prime Minister's Questions in Westminster in reply to Taunton Deane MP Jeremy Browne's question over flooding across the county.

He said action would be taken once the flood water had receeded and that extra provision for pumping would be made available.

The Government's Cobra emergency committee will also meet this afternoon (January 29).

Both Mr Browne and MP David Heath attended today's meeting to speak on behalf of the thousands of people affected by flooding since the start of the year.

Somerset County Council leader John Osman said: “This is just what we wanted to hear from the PM.

"We have lobbied hard to get national attention, we are in a major incident due to the extent and length of time that much of the county is flooded.

“Now we have the PM behind us, people can start to believe that real action, dredging the rivers, sorting the drainage systems, protecting our communities will really happen. I am delighted to hear this.”