PLANS to strengthen flood defences in a vulnerable area of York could be delayed by a year because of cuts in Government funding.

Embankments protecting hundreds of homes in the Leeman Road area came perilously close to failure during the floods of November 2000, when they were almost overtopped by water from the River Ouse.

The Environment Agency announced earlier this year that it intended to spend £1.6 million strengthening and heightening the embankments within the next five years.

It wanted to make them strong enough to withstand increased threats caused by climate change, saying the risk of a repeat ofthe 2000 floods was likely to rise over the coming century.

"In 2000, the flooding was seen as a once in 80 years event, " said a spokesman. "In 50 years, we will be three to four times more likely to see it."

Councillor Andrew Waller, who represents York on the Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee, said £100,000 set aside for a feasibility study this year should not be affected.

But he had concerns that the next phase of the capital scheme might now come under threat because of unexpected cuts to the agency's budget.

He said the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) had warned the agency's funding would have to be cut because of higher than expected costs in paying subsidies to farmers.

This followed problems at the Rural Payments Agency, which had led to farmers facing lengthy delays before receiving their money.

He said the Treasury had refused to allow Defra any extra cash, leading it to impose cuts elsewhere in its budget.

Coun Waller, who chairs a finance sub-committee of the regional flood committee, said it had originally been hoped that capital schemes might be spared from the axe, but he now had concerns that this might not prove possible.

Hesaid the finance committee would be meeting in mid-August, by when it would know how severe the cuts would be, but he feared the figure could run into millions. The sub-committee would recommend where the cuts should be made, with the final decision being taken at a full committee meeting in September.