WORRIED householders living near Pickering Beck have had hopes dashed for a big flood defence scheme going ahead as a priority.

Residents have been told that it could be a year before the work gets under way.

Tom Fewster, project manager for the Environment Agency, told a public meeting at the Memorial Hall that a "fast track" scheme, planned for Malton and Norton, was not appropriate for Pickering. He said there was no one solution suitable for the market town.

No suitable sites had so far been pinpointed where large quantities of flood water could be stored on the moorland above Pickering, and the agency was now looking at potential smaller sites.

Mr Brewster said: "There are technical problems in developing flood defences at Pickering." He said ground conditions in the area were poor.

Several possibilities had been explored, including upstream storage of water, flow diversions, increasing channel capacities, removal of structures, barrier defences and land use management.

"None of these solutions will, we feel, make a significant difference, so we are looking at localised solutions to give a positive reduction in flood risks," he said.

In a worst case scenario, which might occur once in 100 years, Pickering could suffer a "major" flood with 35 cubic metres of water a second hitting the town. Potentially, about 195 homes and properties could be affected, the meeting was told.

It was decided to set up a flood forum consisting of about ten residents.