Nottinghamshire flood victims excluded from relief fund

People were left stranded after water levels rose quickly after heavy rainfall in July 2013

Towns, badly affected by flooding last summer, have been left out of government funding, a council has said.

In July, hundred of properties in Southwell and Hucknall were flooded and some residents have still not been able to return to their homes.

Nottinghamshire County Council has written to Defra asking for help to protect the towns from future funding.

The government made £140m available for areas, including Somerset, which were hit by the winter floods in the budget.

Councillor Steve Calvert said he wants support extended to all areas which were affected by flooding within the current financial year.

'Needs are great'

He said he was "worried" Nottinghamshire would not get enough government money to effectively alleviate future flooding.

"Clearly money should be directed where the needs are greatest but our job in Nottinghamshire is to demonstrate what our needs are and they are great, as was demonstrated in July last year."

Hucknall was badly affected after heavy rain in July

Defra confirmed funding announced in the budget was just for communities affected by winter flooding

About 100 homes were hit by flooding in Southwell when 3in (7cm) of rain fell in two hours.

The council is set to vote on the release of £600,000 to manage flooding in the town and £410,000 towards schemes in Hucknall.

A bid for a Flood and Coastal Risk Management Grant in Aid, which pays for schemes that help reduce the risk of flooding and coastal erosion, will also be voted on at the meeting in April.