The pictures of York's flood devastation faded from international news bulletins six months ago.

But the nightmare that the highest waters in living memory brought to hundreds of city residents is still very much alive.

As a delegation left Rawcliffe for London today to quiz Government Minister Elliot Morley about defences in the area, it carried with it the message that 50 of the area's 118 residents forced from their homes still cannot return.

And it will be urging action to make sure the disaster cannot be allowed to happen again.

"People forget that it's not over," said Richard Moore, chairman of the council's parish council and one of the people travelling to the capital today.

"For the people who have to live it, it is going to be a long time before it is over, and it is something that they never will forget.

"We don't know if this was a once in a 150-year flood, or if we'll be hit by it again this year. We hope for the best, but prepare for the worst and it would be irresponsible not to do what is necessary to protect the area."

Because Rawcliffe was not considered a high risk area for flooding, the residents suspect they do not have a peak position on the list of places to receive new defences.

Councillor Moore said: "We are considered a low priority, but the parish council is working on agencies to ascertain what can be done, which is one of the prime reasons for seeing Elliot Morley."

Bill Tomlinson, 71, is hoping the minister will be listening.

His home in Rawcliffe Croft is surrounded by empty buildings. The thriving street now stands dead, the silence broken only by the sound of workmen re-building the shells of homes.

Mr Tomlinson, his wife Susan and son Richard could consider themselves lucky. After six months in a Bootham holiday flat, they now have a date to return home next month.

But many don't. For some, their houses haven't even dried enough for repair work to start.

"At last I feel I am coming home," said Mr Tomlinson, who moved to the house 33 years ago.

"I bought this house to live in, and to stay in until I die, and it means an awful lot to me. It's at last beginning to look like our home again.

"You've got to be able to laugh about what's happened, otherwise it gets you down. It's certainly got me down a couple of time."

Updated: 08:55 Monday, April 30, 2001