VITAL flood defence work around Northallerton could take longer than was first thought.

The man heading efforts to deliver solutions says funding is a problem.

But Mike Moore also stressed that preparation work to put schemes in place would continue.

At Hambleton Flood Forum on Wednesday, Mr Moore, environmental services director for North Yorkshire County Council, said he was waiting for a decision on a bid for Defra cash.

He has asked the Government agency for 45pc of the £3m which will be needed to do the work required in parts of Northallerton, Brompton, Thirsk and Romanby. A decision is expected in August.

After the meeting, he said: "I can't see Defra just handing over a cheque for nearly £1.5m. I think it will want to make payments in stages.

"I do not have any of the £3m we need for the main work, so it looks as though the schedule will be put back."

Mr Moore said it was originally thought all the work could be done by August 2004, with the remainder of the £3m coming from local authorities and other agencies.

Since the forum was set up last year in response to chronic flooding throughout the area, some remedial work has been done. It comprises agencies such as local authorities, Yorkshire Water, the Environment Agency, police, emergency services and an action group.

Mr Moore and his team had completed temporary work on the Wooden Hill Bridge at Romanby and other small projects. This had been achieved through the county's bridges budget and there is some cash for other low-cost schemes.

He still hopes to complete the first stage of the project - including a feasibility study - by the end of October.

But he added: "The work itself will cost £3m and I have none of that in my pocket. But we must continue to prepare so that we are in a position to deliver the work once funding has been sorted out."

Flood Action group representative Margaret Jackson asked if Hambleton District Council would be contributing to the cost.

The authority's director of planning and environmental services, Steve Quartermain, said: "We have always said that when we know the cost of the works required we will consider our contribution.

"Today is the first time we have had specifics. After this, we will report to the cabinet and ask members how we are to proceed."

Mrs Jackson also wanted to know what the district council was doing about flood-hit residents.

"People suffer shock and trauma through flooding and the effects can take years to overcome, if at all," she said.

"Areas prone to flooding are loaded on insurance. Homes can be hard to sell because of this and new householders can find it almost impossible to get cover."

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