Charles urges tourists to visit flood-hit areas

The Prince of Wales has urged tourists to visit the areas of Britain hardest hit by this winter's devastating floods, while highlighting concerns over climate change.

Charles hailed the resilience of communities across Britain that have bounced back despite floods wreaking "devastation and heart-breaking losses", and called on the wider public to support the recovery by booking holidays at home this spring.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, the keen environmentalist said he understood the difficulties faced by those living in rural communities who must cope "with both shifts in the wider economy and the ever more extreme vagaries of the weather, thanks to dangerously accelerating climate change".

But he added: "There is no doubt in my mind that the best way to help flooded areas recover is by people continuing to visit and stay in these beautiful places in order to keep the vital local businesses going."