BURY has received nearly £1.5 million in government funding to help victims of flooding, it has been revealed.

Figures released in parliament following a question by Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi show Bury received £1,495,514.

The question asked how much cash Greater Manchester local authorities had been given by the government following the devastating Boxing Day floods, with Radcliffe and Ramsbottom among the worst hit areas in Bury.

Ministers said local authorities are responsible for how the money is distributed, with the overall total being calculated in terms of the number of households flooded in each area.

Bury Council as well as Salford and Rochdale councils have handed out grants of £500 to flooded households.

Bolton Council is using the money differently those councils, saying it is awarding grants in terms of need rather than handing out flat grants of £500.

Salford received £1,981,754, the highest grant in Greater Manchester, with Bury receiving £1,495,514, the second highest, followed by Rochdale with £1,403,164 and Bolton with £384,377.

Answering Ms Qureshi in Parliament, James Wharton, department for local government minister, said: "The Department is supporting local authorities affected by Storm Desmond and Storm Eva with community recovery, business support and property resilience through the Communities and Business Recovery Scheme.

"It is for local authorities to determine how to use this money to best meet local need and ensure value for money.

"To date the Department has paid out over £47 million under the Communities and Business Recovery Scheme, including the amounts below to local authorities in the Greater Manchester area."

Funding received by councils in Greater Manchester:

Salford - £1,981,754

Bury - £1,495,514

Rochdale - £1,403,164

Bolton - £384,377

Wigan - £178,009

Oldham - £29,910

Manchester - £29,290

Trafford - £3,694