REDCAR and Cleveland council is getting tough over better flood protection for Skinningrove.

The council is angry at the government's attitude and will now urge environment minister Mr Chris Mullin to help get improved flood warning and protection for the village.

The move comes after the community was devastated by flash-floods in July.

More severe weather and heavy rainfall, which some experts put down to global warming, has meant the council's budget for maintaining becks and watercourses has risen from an estimated £1,850 in 2000-01 to expenditure approaching £50,000 in a year.

Some weeks ago, as the government prepared to introduce a new national flood warning system from September 12, the council suggested the Environment Agency adopt Skinningrove Beck as a 'main river.'

This would qualify the area for specialised flood warnings and, it was hoped, more resources for flood defences.

The Agency rejected the case and suggested Skinningrove be put under the North York Moors floodwatch area.

The council's executive is now to challenge the Agency, backed by local MP Dr Ashok Kumar, with a letter to Mr Mullin, minister responsible for water and coastal policy.

This will be reinforced with a pledge to examine its own budget to tackle flooding issues.

Council leader David Walsh said: "We suffer from higher levels of rainfall than the moors. There was no warning on the day Skinningrove was flooded in July and there is no guarantee."

Dr Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: "It seems wrong that a big national government agency is leaving everything to a small local authority."

For the Agency, Mr Peter Holmes said: "From the information provided, I can see no reason to support the case for 'maining' the beck.