If businesses can't get insurance they can't get on in business

John Clark Lewes jeweller

He is angry about what he sees as slow progress on improved defences from the Environment Agency and welcomes the ICE demands for a stronger, better co-ordinated approach.

Mr Clark said business people and homeowners would be refused insurance unless action was taken to protect their properties.

He said: "The main concern is the future flood defences of Lewes and being able to get insurance in the future.

"If businesses can't get insurance they can't get on in business."

'Unimpressed'

The threat of future floods is also being felt in Yalding, Kent, which was among the worst hit towns last October.

Sub-postmaster Margaret Reavill was unconvinced the Environment Agency has done enough to protect the village.

Shops in Yalding were flooded

She said: "I'm quite confident we won't be flooded as badly as we were last year, but I would still like to see more money spent on the rivers.

"I don't think any of the villagers are too impressed, they haven't done as much as people had hoped."

Mrs Reavill said the only thing the villagers could count on was one another.

"It was a bit of the Dunkirk spirit", she said of last year's flood.