BURY South MP Ivan Lewis has called on the government to provide significant funding for flood defences and to support the families and businesses whose livelihoods have been devastated.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Lewis said that the government had to show leadership and deliver on promises to help those in need across the borough.

He said: "It is now urgent the Government shows some leadership by supporting Bury Council to take the immediate steps which are necessary. These include significant funding for flood defences, bridge and highways repairs together with financial support for residents and businesses whose properties have been affected.

"I would urge you to instruct the relevant minister to work directly with Cllr Mike Connolly, the Leader of Bury Council to ensure this support is provided and deployed as a matter of urgency. I would also ask that the Government intervenes with the relevant utilities to ensure they act speedily to restore power supplies to residential and business properties.

"Finally, the Chancellor speaks often of the Northern Powerhouse, yet in Bury and across Greater Manchester our basic level of funding to support local services is being slashed. This crisis gives you an opportunity to show that you will apply your previous commitment of 'whatever it takes' to supporting our communities at this crucial time."

Mr Cameron said on Monday that the government had spent 'more per head of the population on flood defences in the north than we do in the south.'

He added: "We are going to spend £2.3bn on flood defences in this parliament but we will look at what's happened here and see what needs to be done."

David Nuttall, MP for Bury North, said: "For many people in Bury, and across the North of England, Boxing Day this year will only be remembered for one thing - the devastating floods which have resulted in misery for thousands.

“I particularly want to thank all those, whether working for the local authority or the emergency services, who have done all they can to ease a terrible situation. Inevitably people will look to blame the council or the Government but on a day when every river in Lancashire rose to record levels it is difficult to conceive of any measures that would have prevented all the flood damage that has occurred."