COUNCIL chiefs are making preparations for future emergencies in the wake of the devastating floods that paralysed large parts of the region.

An emergency committee of Richmondshire District Council is meeting later this week to discuss the authority's response to the recent flooding crisis and to see what can be done in future.

Staff worked around the clock to provide sandbags to affected residents and the council was inundated with calls from drivers concerned about which roads in the district were passable.

Members of the emergency committee will hear of the importance of effective planning when they meet on Thursday to consider a draft flood plan for Richmondshire.

Corporate unit manager Margaret Barry said: "Information collected during the recent floods will be invaluable in identifying vulnerable properties and parts of the district prone to flooding."

The plans were being put in place as Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott warned that the recent floods would not be the last to hit the area.

Mr Prescott, travelling to The Hague for a United Nations conference on climate change, has told developers, insurers and the public to prepare for more freak weather in the future.

He also confirmed that new rules on house building would be outlined next month, making sure local authorities take heed of Environment Agency objections to homes going up on flood plains.

Meanwhile, homeowners and businesses in the Hambleton district were continuing the clean-up this week. And there was anger among some Northaller-ton residents living near Turker Beck, who said they had warned their local council that the town would be flooded unless action was taken.

Several residents claimed that the beck had burst its banks at least four times in the past 15 months but there had been no action from Hambleton or North Yorkshire councils.

Head of environmental management at the county council, Mike Masterman, said: "We are looking at the water courses in the north part of the town that were affected, but so far have not come to any conclusions as to what the solution is."

In Thirsk, Coun Jan Marshall is asking for information from flood victims in the town that can be passed on to a forthcoming Hambleton District Council meeting. She can be contacted on (01845) 524725.