Military planners on Thursday (January 30) were working to help hundreds of people still flooded in the South-West English county of Somerset.

The British Army was on standby in the coastal area Somerset Levels on Thursday and specialist equipment was expected to arrive within days. Thursday’s military deployment came after an intervention by British Prime Minister, David Cameron.

Major Al Robinson of the Royal Engineers was one of those assessing the extent of the problem.

“At the moment it’s very much about supporting the local authority. So I wouldn’t like to speculate at this stage what they actually need because that’s not been specifically articulated”, he said.

Some villages in Somerset had been cut-off by floodwaters for weeks.

Local residents continued to be rescued by boat, but some were not optimistic about what the military could do to improve the situation.

“It seems a good idea but what exactly are they going to do, I don’t know,” said local resident Joan Moore.

“No we’re not sure either but it’s going to be a long term policy on this place, it must,” added David Moore.

Another resident felt help was needed earlier.

“Well it’s a bit too late really, they ought to have been involved three weeks ago really”, said Dave Selway.

The British Met Office revealed that parts of southern England have seen the wettest January since records began more than a century ago. More heavy rain is forecast for the already flood-stricken area.