ENVIRONMENT Secretary Owen Paterson has described flooding in East Yorkshire as "shocking and terrible" on a trip to Hull.
Mr Paterson visited the city's tidal barrier on Saturday evening to see how the structure protected 19,000 homes from a 5.8m surge of water.
Around 200 homes were flooded in Hull and the East Riding on Thursday night during the biggest tidal surge for 60 years.
Mr Paterson said the tidal barrier undoubtedly saved thousands more from the water.
"It is a really terrible moment, just before Christmas, to have this sudden inundation, which ruins family homes and is bad for businesses," he said.
"For those that have been affected, it is shocking and terrible. I am desperately sorry for those people in that dreadful situation.
"However, thousands of properties have not flooded, which shows the value of flood defences.
"The tidal barrier has saved a dramatic number of properties from flooding in the centre of Hull.
"I would also like to thank and congratulate the Environment Agency and other public services, who reacted very quickly in these exceptional circumstances."
Mr Paterson viewed maps of the area protected by the tidal barrier and took a tour of the structure, which was partially lowered shortly before he arrived.
