The village of Kilnsea lies on the Spurn peninsula

The government is spending about �80m on flood defences in the Humber region in the next seven years.

But raising the flood banks at Kilnsea near Spurn Point is not economically viable, the Environment Agency said.

Residents fear the decision will leave their village and surrounding area open to flooding.

Houses threatened

Jean Bunker, who owns the village pub, said residents of Kilnsea felt abandoned by the Environment Agency.

"We still get our council tax to pay and business rates. For the people of the village, we are all concerned."

The coastline at Spurn Point, which lies in the mouth of the Humber estuary, has been eroding for centuries and is currently losing about two metres every year.

"Unfortunately, that means in a short time the area where defences at the moment protect a small number of houses, that protection will be lost," said Environment Agency spokesman Philip Winn.

Jean Bunker said everyone in the village was concerned

But despite the threat of encroaching seas, Mr Winn said there was not a good enough economic case to be made for improving the Kilnsea defences.

"There is a real issue about the way public money is spent and unfortunately when there is a small number of properties involved it is very difficult to make that justification," he added.

A public consultation is currently running about the agency's Humber flood risk management strategy which lists locations where investment is likely to be made to improve defences.