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Jeremy Corbyn visited flood-hit families while Boris Johnson continued to dodge demands to see for himself the devastation unleashed by Storm Dennis.

The Prime Minister was also still resisting calls to trigger a COBRA meeting to coordinate efforts to help householders battered by the mayhem.

The Labour leader toured flood-damaged homes in Rhydyfelin near Pontypridd – and blasted the Conservative leader for spending the week holed up at a country mansion in Kent and his No10 bunker.

Firefighters' leaders also criticised Mr Johnson's response as a “shambles” - and accused him of cowering away.

Furious householders urged the PM to leave No10 and the Government's grace-and-favour retreat, Chevening, and see the aftermath of the rainfall.

(Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)

Selena Adamiec, 36, who showed Mr Corbyn round her end-of-terrace house, revealed she was woken by a huge bang at 3am on Sunday as a wall outside her home collapsed under the weight of water.

“I heard this massive explosion, it was a warning for us to act fast,” she said.

Water flowed down the hillside, along the road and into her street on the Wordsworth Gardens social housing estate.

“It was awful, the water was piling up,” she said.

“I've only been here a year, we'd just finished decorating, that's the sickening thing.”

Selena, mum to seven-year-old Jacob, had to rip up carpets and was left mopping up when the waters subsided.

Standing next to Mr Corbyn, Selena praised his visit, telling the Mirror: “This is the reason why I voted for this one.

“I don't know why Boris Johnson hasn't come here, I really don't know.

“But the fact Jeremy Corbyn has means a lot – it means we have been recognised in this disaster.

“What is Boris doing?

(Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)

“I think Boris should at least have a look - whether he knocks on people's doors or not, just come and have a look at the devastation.”

Next door, her neighbour Theresa Davies, 40, opened her back door so water could flow through her house – in one end and out the other – as the weekend torrents erupted.

Theresa managed to save the cushions from her sofa, but carpets and treasured possessions were lost.

Speaking above the noise of three heavy-duty dryers, the mum-of-three said: “I lost a big cardboard box of all my children's baby photos.

“They're not worth much but they are valuable to me, they can't be replaced.”

Showing Mr Corbyn phone pictures of her flooded home, she added: “The whole house was floating, it was horrific.”

Turning to the Labour leader, she said: “It means a lot they have come to see it for themselves.

“We usually get forgotten about up here.

“I think it's quite ridiculous the Prime Minister hasn't been, to be honest with you.

“If it was in a different area than Rhydyfelin, Pontypridd, I should imagine he'd go there.

“I'm disappointed, he could have shown a bit more interest.”

(Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)

Richard Oliver, 43, believes the wall collapsing alerted residents to the imminent flooding.

“The wall coming down saved us, it was such a bang,” said Richard, who lost carpets in the wreckage.

“We had heard of Storm Dennis but I didn't know it was going to be as bad as it was.

“It was like something out of a disaster film.”

Sandbags and Floodgate panels stood in front of houses along the street yesterday(THU), with residents braced for further downpours.

Speaking as hail battered the estate, Mr Corbyn said: “I think the Prime Minister should visit these places.

“COBRA should have been called.

“Just visiting people, and talking and listening to them, you learn a great deal about the reality of what a flood is.” The Labour leader, who stands down on April 4, admitted it was “heartbreaking” hearing stories of people losing furniture and seeing their homes ruined.

He told the Mirror: “It is the duty of the Prime Minister to be there in places where there are difficulties – whether there is an election on or not.” He urged the PM: “Go and visit them, go and talk to them, go and listen to them.

“Go and see what it is like when you have sewage water in you kitchen, go and see what it's like when you lose all your personal possessions.

(Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)

“Just think about that, think how you would feel if your house was flooded.”

A key ally of the PM was sent out to defend Mr Johnson for snubbing victims.

Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi claimed it was "more important" to get money to those affected than for them to see their PM in person.

"Quite rightly, rather than having a jamboree of media and a whole entourage going, he wants to help people by getting the funding to them," he told Sky News.

Environment Secretary George Eustice added: “Jeremy Corbyn shouldn’t be trying to politicise the floods, he should be backing the Government’s move to support and work with emergency personnel who are working tirelessly to help everyone affected.”

Mr Corbyn dismissed as “utter nonsense” Tory claims his visit was a political stunt.

The Labour leader added: “It's not politicising, it's coming hear people, to listen to people and their experiences of what they have been through.”

The PM was also attacked by the Fire Brigades' Union.

It said funding for fire and rescue services in England has been cut by £141.5million over the four-year local government finance settlement, 2016/17 to 2020/21, including an £8.7million cut to the services covering areas with severe “risk to life” flood warnings.

(Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)

It highlighted how Hereford and Worcester have had funding cut by £1.9milion – 19.8% - as they facing severe flooding from the River Severn in Upton-upon-Severn and the River Wye in Hampton Bishop.

Gloucestershire has been cut by £1.3million – 18.7% - despite facing severe flooding from the Severn at Uckinghall, the union revealed.

General secretary Matt Wrack said: “This Prime Minister has shown absolutely zero leadership as flooding devastates our communities.

“Firefighters are on the ground fighting to keep people, homes, and businesses safe while Boris Johnson cowers in Westminster.

“Flooding is nothing new and will only get worse with climate change, but our ability to tackle its consequences has been utterly undermined by a lack of long-term planning from this shambles of a government.

“The Tories have slashed fire and rescue funding, bungled flood defences, and refused to recognise in law the role of firefighters and control staff in responding to these emergencies.

“Boris Johnson should be ashamed.”