The Evening Press campaign to Save Ryedale from Flooding has gathered more than 1,200 signatures of support from residents.

The campaign, which was launched in October, aims to get the Environment Agency to step up its promise to build flood defences in Ryedale.

After the floods of March 1999 the Press decided it was high time the agency got its act together and speeded up plans to build defences and prevent further flooding.

Residents struck by the floods in 1999 threw their weight behind our campaign, but then, disaster struck.

Only weeks later Ryedale and York were hit by severe flooding after days of continuous rain.

Hundreds of residents who had only just moved back into their homes following months of building work, which had been necessitated by last year's floods, were forced to abandon their homes again.

If anything, this reinforced the campaign and residents came out in force demanding action.

Save Ryedale from Flooding petition forms were distributed to shops and pubs across the district and cut-out forms were printed in the Evening Press.

A total of 1,263 signatures have been collected, with still more to come.

Petition forms are set to be presented to the Environment Agency early next year.

If you have completed a petition form please send it to The Evening Press, 22, Yorkersgate, Malton, YO17 OAG.