Victims of the 2007 floods are continuing to face rises in home insurance costs, as the excess for flood cover increases to a level which is making properties extremely difficult to sell.

Many of these victims have stated that they invested thousands in order to safeguard their homes from flooding. However, insurers have not rewarded their efforts.

Chief Executive Mary Dhonau, from the National Flood Forum, said that many people have been coming to the organisation with flood excesses and huge premiums of around £30,000.

This is as good as having no home insurance and would even make the property worthless.

She added that over the last year, the problem has become much worse. They are now receiving a huge number of calls from homeowners, who spent a lot of money to protect their homes but are being refused cover or being charged very high premiums.

Chris Wreghitt, a home owner who is currently facing this problem, said that his home insurance premium has jumped to over three times what he was paying before the flood hit his home.

A spokesman from the Environment Agency, said that at the moment, only a few insurers are rewarding people who are signing up for the flood warning services by providing low excesses and low premiums.