ON behalf of Devon County Council, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the emergency services, other agencies and to Devon's communities for the part they played in responding to last week's severe weather and floods.

My sympathies are with everyone who has been affected. Rest assured, we will be doing all we can to persuade the Government to provide us with the support we need to protect our county from future disruption.

It has been really heart-warming to see the enormous efforts made by local communities and businesses to keep services running, help with the clear up, and mitigate against the effects of some of the most severe weather we have experienced for quite some time.

This was particularly apparent in some of our most rural and isolated parts of Devon, where the farming community played an enormous part in helping out those most in need.

I'd also like to pay tribute to the Environment Agency, Met Office, Highways Agency, Police, Fire and the many other agencies involved, along with the district and parish councils. This was a demonstrable example of whole communities pulling together in a crisis.

Cllr Jerry Brook, Chairman, Devon County Council