A POWERFUL committee of MPs has criticised the Environment Agency's early

flood warning system.

In a report published today, the Public Accounts select committee said the agency needed to speed up improvements to the system - which is depended upon by hundreds of householders in flood risk areas in North Yorkshire.

In the wake of the November 2000 floods, the Environment Agency increased its early warning system to homes at greatest risk. In 1996 only 13 per cent of homes received early warnings, but now 60 per cent of homes are covered.

The agency aims to achieve 80 per cent cover of all homes at risk by 2009/10. But the proposal has been criticised by the all-party House of Commons committee for its lack of ambition.

Chairman Edward Leigh said: "People should be able to expect a two-hour warning at the very least, but the agency's all too modest aim means that by 2009 one in five households would still not even get this much notice."

Flood warnings remained in place today on the River Ouse, in York, and at Naburn Lock, although water levels are slowly going down. Therewas also a flood watch on the River Derwent, at Welham Road, Norton.

Updated: 10:53 Friday, March 01, 2002