THE Government was today under attack for an £80,000 shortfall in cash to tackle the "fridge mountain" fiasco in North Yorkshire.

Last month, ministers announced a £362,434 emergency grant to pay for the storage of fridges dumped because of new Euro-rules.

But Conservative party research suggested the actual bill was expected to top £443,000. Now MPs led by Vale of York's Anne McIntosh want more cash for North Yorkshire County Council and district councils.

Ms McIntosh said Environment Minister Michael Meacher had promised reasonable funding for extra duties imposed on councils by the EU rule change.

She said: "That is the Government's policy, so it should now make it clear how it intends to fund the shortfall in North Yorkshire - which will not be less than £81,162."

The Tories have calculated the shortfall by asking councils for their estimates for disposing of dumped fridges.

For North Yorkshire County Council, the cost for storing and disposing of fridges for the period covered by the Government grant is estimated at £443,596. The bill is certain to increase further when the costs incurred by Craven District Council, Hambleton District Council, Harrogate Borough Council, Richmondshire District Council, Ryedfale District Council, Scarborough Borough Council and Selby District Council are known.

Updated: 12:16 Thursday, December 19, 2002