HOMEOWNERS and farmers should not have to pay taxes to defend their properties from flooding, rural campaigners have declared.

The Government's plans for flood defence funding could see two million at-risk households rerquired to pay £60 a year to protect themselves.

But Dorothy Fairburn, Yorkshire's regional director of the Country Land and Business Association, has hit out at the proposals.

"We have seen the misery of flooding in this county," she said. "Food crops have been washed away and, while that is very serious, for householders, flooding of the home is an absolute nightmare.

"Householders not aware of a flood risk when they bought their homes, or where flood risk has increased due to climate change, should be provided with defences as part of standard public services."

Environment Minister Elliot Morley announced last week that the controversial proposals were being put out for consultation.

The Environment Agency responded by saying £200m a year needed to be spent on flood defences, while plans for the "flood plain tax" were met with widespread disapproval.