West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed extra Government money earmarked to support volunteers who help their community during periods of flooding. A five year fund has been created to support voluntary groups, and £1.7 million has already been handed out to support the work of coastal and in-shore rescue teams. Two years ago, Prime Minister David Cameron visited Upton-upon-Severn and met with the local Mercia Inshore Search and Rescue team and awarded them funds to help with their efforts. The group has purchased a customised jet-ski to help with local rescue efforts and has funded training programmes for volunteers. This month, the group was given a further £7,000 which is expected to help the group to fund the purchase of a Land Rover for support purposes. Harriett said: “Over the last few months, I have had reports of local volunteers who gave up their time to help out during the serious flooding in the north of England. “Many of these people are current or former Fire and Rescue staff and I thank them all for their efforts helping out during December and over the Christmas and New Year period. “We also have a voluntary groups like MISAR working in the local community to provide emergency support and it is good to see the Government continuing to reward their efforts. “During times of serious flooding it literally is ‘every hand to the pump’ and we are thankful that so many people are on hand to help at times of crisis.”