A TOTAL of £19.6 million is to spent on bolstering flood defences in

Yorkshire next year - an increase of £7.1 million.

The extra cash for 2002/03 was announced at Westminster this afternnon by

Floods Minister Elliot Morley.

Vale of York MP Anne McIntosh welcomed the cash - but warned it could lead

to a hike in Council Tax bills.

Only 65 per cent of the funding will come from the Government - with the

Regional Flood Defence Committee charged with raising the remainder

through contributions from local councils.

Updated: 16:17 Thursday, October 25, 2001