A section of the River Ouse wall is being repaired with 20m pilings

The Environment Agency is repairing 35m of the River Ouse wall in Lewes with 20m-high pilings at a cost of �300,000.

The work will repair defences built in the 1960s and damaged in 2000 but some people in the town say not enough is being done for long-term improvement.

"There is no comprehensive plan for the town at all," said MP Norman Baker.

'Meandering along'

"In 2000, the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said we had a wake-up call.

"Almost five years further on we seem to have gone back to sleep and we are meandering along doing little bits and pieces."

The town was flooded after the River Ouse burst its banks in October 2000.

About �800m damage was caused when about 4in of rain fell in 12 hours.

The Environment Agency said the repairs would prevent further deterioration of the defences.

"We believe the defences suffered some damage during 2000 and they have got worse over recent years so by reinstating these we are making sure we are protecting this key area of Lewes," said Andrew Gilham.

Freedom of Information Act

Only one area of the town has had upgraded flood defences since 2000 and Lewes Flood Action Group believes the town is unlikely to get any more for many years.

It has obtained an Environment Agency document under the Freedom of Information Act which says Lewes is not considered a high national priority.

"We are horrified," said action group member Tom Crossett.

"The problem is that the sum government is devoting to flood defences is entirely inadequate."