Prince Charles visit gives Londonderry flood victims 'a real lift'

The Prince met with local residents, business people, members of the emergency services and volunteers who helped on the night and with the ongoing clean-up operation.

Local businesswoman Rosemary Wright, who runs a beauty parlour in the village, said the Prince's visit helped keep the spotlight on the plight still of many people there.

"Just being here today has given everyone a real lift," she said.

"His visit means so much to everyone and I think that it will also keep the spotlight on the village and the help that people still need here.

"He was very interested in what had happened to me and was so shocked to hear that my insurance company hasn't paid out that he offered to contact them for me himself!

"We have lifted the floors at the minute to let them dry out and maybe in the new year when it is totally dried out we can try and repair it room by room.

"It's going to be a very long time before it is back to normal.

"The way that I look at it is that the Prince coming here will keep the focus on the village and the devastation that did happen."

The Prince was accompanied by Derry City and Strabane District Council deputy mayor John Boyle and Chief Executive John Kelpie. Mayor Maoliosa McHugh declined to attend.

Jacqueline McCready was one of the first to speak to the Prince at Eglinton Community Centre, which was used as an emergency centre on the night of the flood.

"He was very interested in everything that we had gone through that day and wanted to know what had happened," she said.