AN MP pledged to do all he can to help villagers cut off for weeks because of flooding in the Fens.Christopher Fraser is to lobby the Government to resolve the problem at Welney, were water on the Ouse Washes flood plain has risen to cover the A1101, lea

AN MP pledged to do all he can to help villagers cut off for weeks because of flooding in the Fens.

Christopher Fraser is to lobby the Government to resolve the problem at Welney, were water on the Ouse Washes flood plain has risen to cover the A1101, leaving it impassable for most vehicles.

Some parents have been left with a 40-mile round-trip diversion to take their children to school, while the floods are affecting trade at Welney's last remaining pub and shop.

Parish councillors met with Mr Fraser, the MP for SW Norfolk, to ask him to continue to support them and raise the issue with the government.

Mr Fraser said after Friday's meeting: "There is no doubt that this is already a very serious problem that potentially could get much worse if it is not addressed as a matter of urgency.

"The root of the problem seems to be the silting up of Wellmore Sluice and Denver Sluice. Dredging has not been carried out for some time, and the silt has solidified so that the flow of water, even in time of flood, is not sufficiently strong to wash the silt through.

"It is time that the government and the Environment Agency realised that they cannot ignore the problems of the fens on the basis that it would cost too much to resolve."

Ken Goodger, chairman of Welney Parish Council, said: "We feel this has been mismanaged and something needs to be done, businesses are losing trade and the village has been cut off."

Parish councillor Mark Brown added: "There are a lot of people who work in Ely and they are facing huge diversions because they cannot go along the road.

"We also are concerned for the safety of people who could drive along the road in the dark and do not know the area or realise the depth of the water.