Designer caught up in Venice floods

5:21pm Monday 1st December 2008

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has described the "Blitz spirit" among the British tourists caught up in Venice's floods.

The interior designer and his wife Jackie flew to the Italian city on Sunday for a Christmas shopping trip - just in time for it to be hit by the highest floods in more than 20 years.

Tourists and residents have been wading through submerged streets as the sea level rose 61 inches and familiar landmarks such as St Mark's Square, the lowest point in the city, were affected.

Llewelyn-Bowen, who said he is staying a "five or six-minute swim" from the landmark piazza, described his hotel lobby as "like a swimming pool".

He said: "The chandeliers are lit - it's a bit like something from Alice in Wonderland."

He said the water came to above-knee level for his wife, who was wearing a new Armani coat.

"We found probably the only cafe that's open in Venice," he said. "About 80% of the people there were British. We were all drinking brandy. There was a Blitz spirit."

Llewelyn-Bowen said a number of people had strapped bin liners to their feet, but he had decided to wade around in his boots and suit because he thought "in for a penny, in for a pound..." He added: "I have to say that I decided not to be concerned about it."

He said the floods made him realise the perilous position of some of Venice's beautiful landmarks.

The family are due to return from their holiday on Wednesday.