If Government minister Phil Hope was expecting an easy ride when he came to Oxford to discuss the flooding, he was sadly mistaken.

He may have got a warm welcome from civic leaders.

But the smooth running of his PR exercise came to abrupt halt in Earl Street, off Botley Road, when pensioner Susan Libor got her claws into him.

Mrs Libor apparently didn't know who he was when she started her tirade.

But Mr Hope will have been left in no doubt about her feelings.

It is all very well for ministers like him to meet the so-called experts to discuss the recent emergency and draw up future plans.

But it is only when they talk to the real victims that they can get any sense of the despair the flooding caused.

Mrs Libor let it be known that she was not impressed at having her home flooded three times in eight years - and she is not alone.

Although the July rainfall was exceptional, we have clearly learned little from previous floods.

Too little was done then to prevent, or least minimise, future flooding - and it seems that we have been slow off the mark this time as well.

We have so far seen little evidence of action to protect the vulnerable areas of the county. All we get are vague promises.

Perhaps the outspoken Mrs Libor will have sparked Mr Hope and his colleagues into life.