The system of building new flood defences in Wales is not good enough, according to a professional surveying body.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) says too many organisations are involved in the process, funding is piecemeal and flood schemes take too long to build.

It has called for a thorough overhaul of the way the flood defence system is organised.

Flood findings

Too many bodies involved Funding is piecemeal Defence building takes too long Thorough overhaul needed Source: Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors

Flood prevention is handled by different agencies - depending on the body of water involved.

The Environment Agency is the lead authority, but only for major rivers and sea defences.

Minor rivers, meanwhile, are the responsibility of local councils.

It is not always clear who is responsible for small outlets like culverts and drains.

The Environment Agency in Wales has said four of its major schemes have been held up because of cash shortages or planning difficulties.

Work on the biggest of them, at Caldicot in Monmouthshire, is to start in the New Year, but will take 12 years to complete.

No protection

Nearby Monmouth was hit by heavy floods in February - the second time the town had been affected in 14 months.

But with winter beginning to grip once again, there is still no protection scheme in place, and no date has been given for when defences are to be built.

A pub in Monmouth was hit by floods in February

A government inquiry into flood management and funding is set to report its findings soon.

But any major change would require a reform in the law, which could take up to five years.

Parts of Wales were hit by floods just two weeks ago when heavy rains battered parts of the country.

Areas around Ammanford and Loughor in Carmarthenshire were particularly badly affected.

One school at Barry in Vale of Glamorgan had to close because of flooding affecting the school.