Government cash to help shore up flood defences needs to be delivered much faster, according to local councils.

In its submission to the Pitt Review into the devastating floods which hit vast swathes of land in Yorkshire and the Midlands this summer, the Local Government Association (LGA) said vital funds need to be released soon to avert another disaster.

Flood defence work is set to be boosted, up from £600 million a year to £800 million a year by 2010, but the LGA fears this could be too long a time frame.

Paul Bettison, chairman of the LGA, said that, although he welcomed positive moves being made by the government to improve flood defences, he was worried about a repeat of this year's scenes, which "ruined the lives of thousands of people and cost the economy billions of pounds."

He added: "There is a strong and compelling case for ministers to bring forward the timetable for this investment so our villages, towns and cities are better protected."

Following the summer floods, the insurance industry has been licking its wounds after being hit hard with a £3 billion bill.

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