ONE of York's most distinctive riverside buildings, the Bonding Warehouse, is once again inundated by floodwater.

Fortunately, this was a General Election stunt and no repeat of the deluge of 2000 that shut down the restaurant and pub, triggering an ongoing row between the tenants and the council over its future.

Environmental campaigners projected an image of the river rising high on the side of the building near Skeldergate Bridge to highlight the impact of climate change to politicians.

The stunt by wildlife group WWF was intended to thrust green issues into the election limelight, amid warnings that unless something is done to curb carbon dioxide emissions, this life-like image could become a regular reality for York.

WWF campaign director Andrew Lee said: "British politicians have been guilty of a lot of rhetoric on climate change and very little action.

"We have only a decade to take action to reduce soaring greenhouse gas emissions and prevent the worst impacts of climate change becoming reality.

The message was backed today by city politicians.

York Green candidate, Andy D'Agorne, said it was about time climate change - a key policy for his party - was highlighted in the election campaign. He called for massive cuts in plane travel and road building.

Liberal Democrat Andrew Waller, who sits on the regional flood defence committee, said climate change was having a "big impact" on York. He said Liberal Democrats would change the tax system so full, efficient planes pay less.

Conservative Clive Booth said: "This is the single biggest issue facing my generation," he said, outlining Tory plans for big discounts on greener cars and fuel and a £100 million Whitehall energy efficiency drive.

Labour's Hugh Bayley said climate change was the "biggest threat to our environment".

He said he persuaded Tony Blair to make the topic one of his priorities for the UK-led G8 summit this summer.

In a separate riverside stunt, a whole new meaning was given to the term "floating voter".

WWF placed a ballot box on a boat moored outside the flood-prone Kings Arms pub yesterday. York candidates were invited to cast an "eco-vote" on climate change - pledging to back the green group's demands on reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent by 2010.

Updated: 10:47 Saturday, April 30, 2005