A RADICAL scheme to build a 1.6km tunnel under a North Yorkshire town could go ahead to protect residents from more flooding.

Environment Agency engineers met residents in Pickering yesterday to discuss a set of plans to protect the town.

The range of options was presented to the public for the first time at a special consultation session held in the town centre.

One idea put forward would see a £3.8 million two metre-wide flood diversion tunnel constructed under the north of the town.

A £6.2 million scheme to re-grade the water channel and deepen it has also been suggested.

Flood defence experts were on hand to discuss the plans, and questionnaires were handed out so that those affected by the potential construction works could put forward their suggestions and concerns.

Improvements engineer Michael Dugher said he was delighted at how many people came to the drop-in session.

"Staff have been taking comments on board and there was a summary to take away for people to study in detail before they tell us what they think," he said.

"We may well have missed some bits we are not perfect but we can take those comments from people to look at them again."

Resident Janet Pasley moved into her home in Mill Lane last year, shortly after the last flood.

"We definitely want something doing," she said.

"I suppose looking at the options, the idea of altering the channel is the best one.

"Installing walls would be like living in a fortress."

Gordon Clitheroe, from Pickering's Beck Isle Museum, said he was pleased to see different options were still being discussed.

"I am optimistic because they have really done their homework and brought us seven options," he said.

"The main thing is that Pickering accepts this chance to protect the town because if they don't, the money could be spent elsewhere."

Environment Agency officers will now take away the public comments and select the preferred option for a scheme in Pickering.

Ryedale District Councillor Natalie Warriner, a member of the town's flood defence forum, said it was important to realise that whatever the final scheme may be, it would be something the whole town agreed on.

"I think we have to wait and see what the residents say," she said.

"The Environment Agency has come up with some absolutely brilliant ideas.

"Anything that stops the speed of the flow would be preferable because it's the speed of the water coming down off the moors, that's the problem."

Updated: 10:45 Tuesday, July 22, 2003