The Duchess of Cornwall met flood victims in Malmesbury to har how the town coped withits worst floods in 70 years.

Some of the residents had to be rescued from the first floor of their homes, with nine families losing everything on the ground floor of their properties.

 

Camilla visited one of the homes, where she viewed the damage caused by the floodwater and went on to the Rose and Crown pub, where she met volunteers and emergency workers who helped in the rescue effort.

Camilla also chatted with flood victim Karyn Anderson, 41, who lives with her 11-year-old son, Ben, in the same road as Dr Pickering, and described the Duchess as "very sympathetic".

Speaking to several residents, she told them that one of the cottages on her own estate had also been affected by the recent flooding.
The Rose and Crown was itself affected although staff still managed to provide tea and coffee for those who had to be evacuated from their homes.

Earlier, the Duchess browsed craft stalls at a Christmas Extravaganza at Bowood House - home to Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne in Wiltshire

- which was lavishly dressed for a family Christmas, including an 18ft Christmas tree in the library.

The grand house is hosting its first Christmas Extravaganza - a ticketed event - which is helping to raise funds for the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust.

The Duchess, the patron of the trust, was also greeted by her son, Tom Parker-Bowles, who was at the house signing his cookery book as part of Bowood's Cooks-with-books signing sessions.