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British PM warns of worsening floods

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British Prime Minister David Cameron warned on Tuesday that domestic floods were likely going to get worse before they got better, pledging money was now no object to battling back the rising waters.

Cameron scrapped a previously unannounced trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories next week in order to stay home and deal with the floods, as the government faced renewed criticism that it was under-prepared.

Troops were sent in to help deal with the worsening situation in southern England as hundreds of homes were swamped along the River Thames and rail services succumbed to the bad weather.

Affluent towns and villages along the Thames to the west of London have been transformed into lagoons.

More than 1,000 homes have been evacuated along the Thames, and the situation was set to worsen with heavy rain and storms on the way by Friday.

"There is absolutely no sign of this threat abating, and with further rain and strong winds forecast throughout the week, things may get worse before they get better," Cameron told reporters at his Downing Street office. "Money is no object in this relief effort. Whatever money is needed for it will be spent. We will take whatever steps are necessary."

As for his planned Middle East trip, Cameron said he would instead continue to "lead the national response" by heading the government's COBRA emergency committee.

He said he was sending his apologies to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, "but nothing is more important than dealing with these floods."