LONDON, Feb 4 — Britain’s Prince Charles today visited flood-hit villages that have been cut off from the world by the wettest January for more than a century.

The heir to the throne met residents, farmers and emergency staff in the stricken county of Somerset, in southwest England.

Charles, who often speaks out about environmental and rural issues, pledged £50,000 (RM271,100) from his Prince’s Countryside Fund to help the region.

His visit comes as the government of Prime Minister David Cameron faces anger over its response to the floods.

Charles, 65, received a round of applause from locals as he arrived in the town of Stoke St Gregory.

The Prince of Wales was later due to travel by boat to the village of Muchelney, which has been marooned by floodwaters for more than a month.

“Prince Charles can’t change anything, but people are pleased that he’s coming,” said Catherine Denny, a retired school teacher.

Britain has suffered from storms and heavy rain throughout the winter with parts of southern England seeing the wettest January since records began in 1910.

Cameron’s government has come under fire after an official warned yesterday that Britain may have to choose between whether to protect its towns or its countryside from flooding in the future. — AFP