FAMILIES who were devastated by severe floods claim that despite defences costing more than £1m, their homes are still at risk.

Three times last year, filthy water poured into people's homes at Skinningrove when the beck burst its banks.

Since then, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has introduced measures to ensure the devastation is not repeated.

The latest project, to install a £261,000 flood defence system providing flood walling, flood gates, collapsable bridge parapets and a debris screen, has just been completed.

But despite the measures to fortify the beck, ensuring that flooding does not come from inland, residents say they are still at risk from the sea.

As part of ongoing research by Mouchel Consultants, they have highlighted the need for the beck to be widened, a rock armour spur to be constructed, and the fishtail groyne to be shortened or a ramp added to it to prevent coastal flooding.

But while the council acknowledges that current coastal defences, which were completed in 1991, are inadequate, it claims nothing can be done until next year at the earliest.

A report to the executive, which met on Tuesday, said: "As the coastal protection budget of £20,000 is fully committed for 2001/2002, it is not currently possible to undertake works."

It recommended £80,000 of repairs to existing inland defences be ultimately carried out and that councillors consider commissioning a model of the fishtail groyne, at a cost of £100,000 and an investigation into residents' concerns, costing £30,000. It suggested that the Government be approached for a contribution