Welsh leaders say warnings and defences were inadequate – but government says it cannot protect ‘every single home and business’

• Storm Bert – live updates

Forecasters and politicians have come in for strong criticism after hundreds of homes and business across the UK suffered devastating flooding in Storm Bert.

There were complaints in south Wales, one of the areas most heavily hit, that the Met Office issued only a yellow warning rather than an amber or red one, and growing calls for more investment in flood defences.