Fire Brigade takes flood warning to flower show

The London Fire Brigade is appearing at the Chelsea Flower Show for the first time as it asks people to stop concreting over driveways to prevent flash flooding.

A rise in sudden downpours and a growth in paved and concrete urban areas has led to more surface water flooding, the fire brigade said, as it urged householders to install more planting and leave gravel between paving slabs to allow water to drain.

Bella Trowbridge, London Fire Brigade’s project manager at the show, urged more use of “porous material and climate-friendly planting”.

The fire service is also installing more planting at its 103 London stations to encourage more drainage.