THE estimated costs of flood defences for a tourist hotspot have soared and some schemes could now be delayed for up to seven years, officials have said.

Only 12 months ago, the Environment Agency's long-term plan for York envisaged a start on projects between Clifton and Naburn Weir in 2007, at an estimated £9m cost.

But the plan is now expected to start in 2010, at an estimated cost of £18.2m.

On top of that, work to the South Esplanade area, where dozens of properties were flooded three years ago, has been put back from 2005 to 2012, with the estimated cost rising from £2.5m to £5m.

Residents campaigning for defences in that area, between Ouse Bridge and Skeldergate Bridge, were shocked at the news.

Anthony Crawshaw, a member of the Central York Flood Action Group, which is campaigning for defences, said he was horrified.

He said he had been told by the agency that the area rated very few points in a new scoring system intended to decide which schemes should be prioritised.

But he said the system took no account of the damage to York's tourist economy of pictures being seen around the world of a flooded Kings Staith and Kings Arms pub.

News of the delays comes only days after the agency revealed that because of extra Government funding, spending on defences across the region will rise to more than half-a-billion pounds over the coming decade.

The agency said estimated costs for the York proposals had been drawn up after more information had become available, and reflected changing costs of construction.

Local MP Hugh Bayley said he would continue to fight for York flood defences to be made a priority.

He said: "The costings are very broad estimates. We have no idea what the real costs will be until detailed designs are done."

A £7.5m flood defence scheme for Malton is now nearing completion, while a £1.9m scheme for Pickering is still planned for the next two years.

A scheme is also under way in Yarm, Teesside, where the Environment Agency approved £2m to improve defences.

A scheme to defend homes in South Church and West Auckland, County Durham, has been delayed because the estimated £4.5m cost has risen to £7.8m. Homes were flooded when the River Gaunless broke its banks two years ago.