THE Government has announced a number of ways people hit by the winter’s floods can get financial help.

A range of aid packages can be accessed, such as business rate relief for three months, council tax rebates for flooded homes, a £5,000 grant for work to help bolster properties against future flooding and a support scheme for affected businesses.

These relief measures will be backdated to December 1. Also the Government has announced a £10million fund for farmers suffering from water-logged fields.

More information can be found at gov.uk. Dorset County Council will be bidding for further funding to help with the costs of repairs. Leader Spencer Flower said: “This is good news for the people of Dorset.

“We are working with our partner councils to ensure that there are a clear set of criteria to use to help people and businesses who need it.

“It is important for the local economy that businesses have the help they need to get them back on their feet and continue trading.”

To apply for any of these initiatives visit www.dorsetforyou.com/flooding or www3.hants.gov.uk/winter-maintenance.

There is also financial support being offered by several major banks.

Banks and building societies including RBS, Lloyds, Barclays, HSBC, Santander and Nationwide are offering a range of support programmes including the £250m UK Storm Business Fund offering three month interest free and fee-free loans.

Advisers can be contacted on 0800 529 8544.