TOWNSPEOPLE have reacted with fury after discovering that they have lost out on £25,000 for much-needed flood defence work.

The money was offered to Hambleton District Council nearly two years ago, shortly after Thirsk was inundated with water when the local beck burst its banks.

But following the authority's failure to come up with a suitable scheme, the promised cash has now been withdrawn by the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.

The money was offered in August 2001, and at the end of that financial year, Hambleton was granted an extension as it had not developed a scheme.

Earlier this year, Yorkshire Forward contacted the authority warning it was in danger of losing the cash unless it came up with a scheme.

However, as nothing has been forthcoming, the offer of cash has now been withdrawn, to the anger of local people.

Jan Marshall, a town, district and county councillor, said yesterday: "A lot of people are furious about this.

"I can understand Yorkshire Forward's point of view. They cannot wait forever and there are other initiatives they can help.

"But Hambleton had delayed and dragged their feet over this.

"At a flood forum last year, they said they would have a scheme out for consultation by November - but we are still waiting to see it."

A spokesman for Yorkshire Forward said the detailed information it needed to release the funding had not materialised, despite a number of requests.

He said: "Yorkshire Forward cannot, and should not, provide open-ended offers.

"The flood defence funding had to be spent by the end of the 2002/2003 financial year.

"That particular funding stream is no longer available."

Hambleton's head of technical services, Dave McGloin, said the scheme had been a complicated one that involved the local internal drainage board.

It had been delayed initially by the foot-and-mouth crisis and then the scheme, to build a flood wall, had proved unacceptable.

However, he said the council was still determined to press ahead without the Yorkshire Forward cash, and a scheme would be presented to the council's members next month.