Thames barrier raised 88 times in 20 years

Rising sea levels and increasing storms due to global warming have forced authorities to raise the River Thames barrier to stop London flooding 88 times in the past 20 years, official figures showed.

The barrier has been raised 54 times against surge tides and 34 times to stop high tides meeting heavy rainfall and inundating the city since it was completed in 1983, the Environment Agency said.