Flood victims in Ryedale turned out in force last night to listen to the Environment Agency - and they were not happy with what they heard.

More than 250 residents attended the meeting in Norton, a figure which illustrates just how high feelings are running.

Two weeks ago, the residents of flood-hit Norton and Malton were told that improved flood defences could be brought forward by a year in the wake of the recent inundation. While it was certainly good news that the Environment Agency was planning to speed up a £4 million project for the River Derwent, nothing was said last night to further satisfy worried residents.

People who have been flooded want action as soon as possible. People who have been flooded twice in a little over 18 months, want action even more quickly than that.

Flood defences are the obvious long-term solution for the Derwent. Yet there are other possibilities. At last night's meeting, many residents complained that not enough was being done to maintain the Derwent properly - especially with regard to dredging the river.

This important point deserves closer attention than it appeared to receive last night. The Environment Agency insists that dredging would not prevent flooding on the scale of this year or 1999, yet surely this is still a proposal worth looking at.

The Government has made money available to the agency, and now that money should be spent as quickly and effectively as possible in order to allay the fears of residents whose hearts will sink every time it rains and the river starts to rise again.

People who have been flooded twice need reassurance that everything possible is being done to prevent a third invasion by muddy river water.