FLOOD defence chiefs have pledged to work with urgency to bring forward plans to protect two communities devastated by heavy rains last month.

In the most severe case, about 200 properties in South Church, County Durham, were flooded when the River Gaunless burst its banks. A further 130 homes were inundated in West Auckland on June 4.

Only four days before the floods, letters had gone out to South Church residents seeking consultation on flood defence systems for their community.

Yesterday, members of the Environment Agency's regional flood defence committee, meeting in Newcastle, were told the plans were under review and would be speeded up.

Flood defence and water resources manager Peter Kerr said experts would be taking on board concerns about drainage problems and water run-off from open cast mines in the area.

These were factors which compounded the speed with which waters rose after a month's worth of rain fell in one day.

Mr Kerr said: "Staff are working full-time looking at flood defence options and to bring them forward successfully."

He said a flood warning scheme, including the installation of sirens, would now be brought forward from September 2002 to this September.

At yesterday's meeting, residents were given the opportunity to describe the trauma caused by the devastation.

Environment Agency regional director Roger Hyde said: "People who were affected, who in many instances lost everything, are understandably frightened, traumatised and angry.

"They found themselves in a situation where they lost everything, with no protection.

"They have lost confidence in the authorities' ability to protect them and their homes.

"And, notwithstanding efforts of emergency services, a lot of people were left to fend for themselves."

Mr Hyde said that while the agency could not address the issue of wider responsibilities alone, it should look very carefully at where its own responsibilities started and ended.

"I personally view my responsibility as regional director to jolly well make sure that we can help in every conceivable way, to get the Government to sit up and take notice and provide whatever recompense might be available," Mr Hyde said.

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