Ryedale flood heroes and victims have made a heartfelt appeal to Tony Blair and John Prescott - give us cash for flood defences.

Simon Robertson, who ran a boat taxi service in Old Malton during the disaster, personally handed a letter pleading for funding to the Prime Minister during a civic reception at 10 Downing Street last night.

And Bridget Jackson, whose Norton home was flooded out, spoke to the Deputy Prime Minister as the town waits to see whether it will get a fast-tracked flood protection scheme.

Bridget Jackson said today that Mr Prescott had indicated a meeting of all agencies would be held shortly, at which such matters would be sorted out.

But he had also spoken of the importance of local authorities being willing to meet their share of the costs of defences.

She said he had assured her he would definitely pay a return visit to Norton, as he had promised during his fact-finding tour at the height of the floods.

At the reception, Mr Blair praised the way ordinary civilians had joined the emergency services in battling to ensure that the waters were held back as much as possible.

And he pledged not to forget the plight of flood-prone towns and villages across the country, but to work for long-term solutions to the problems.

"We are acutely aware of the fact that this problem is not over, that we still need to work on it, that there is an awful lot more to do to get it right," Mr Blair said.

"Our interest and commitment has not diminished. We will carry on working with you to try to do the very best we can, recognising that in certain situations there are limits to what you can do."

Mr Robertson, owner of the Leonie Caf, in Malton, said: "The Prime Minister left quite early for another reception with the Swedish Prime Minister but just before he left I managed to catch him on the stairs and I put the letter in his hand.

"I also spoke to one of his aides and handed her a copy of the letter; she assured me it would come to his attention.

"It would be nice if there was action behind his words; however I think everyone feels that following a civic reception at Downing Street they are committed to doing something.

"Everyone was put at ease once they went through that front door at 10 Downing Street.

"Cherie Blair came and chatted to us and John Prescott and (Agriculture Minister) Elliot Morley were there thanking everyone - we were made to feel very much at home, it was very pleasant."

Updated: 10:30 Tuesday, January 23, 2001