Hundreds of residents whose North Yorkshire community was devastated by the floods have united to call for urgent action to protect them from a repeat of the disaster.

About 400 people from the Wainhomes estate in Barlby unanimously backed a list of common concerns when they packed into Walkers bingo hall, in Selby, to form a working committee.

Barlby flood victim Sharon Egan, who chaired the meeting, told them: "Above all we must stick together and work together as one big unit. We have lots of questions, but hopefully, with the help and support of the right people, we will get answers."

Their concerns focus on:

* The inadequacy of the flood defences, which, they said, had been neglected despite concerns raised by Barlby parish councillors in the past.

* A need for reassurance that their homes will keep their value and that they will be able to get insured again without sky-high premiums.

* Homes that are still uninhabitable should be being protected from thieves.

* Sources of financial help and support for their clean-up operation and accompanying concerns over possible health risks.

* Questions about the flood warnings they were given, which they say came too late and were "inadequate and confusing". Did the sandbagging operation come too late?

* The issue of why Wainhomes was able to build their estate in a flood risk area and why Selby District Council and the Environment Agency did not object.

Mrs Egan said: "No flood affected family will ever feel safe or have peace of mind without adequate defences. People will need to see that work being carried out straight away."

Selby MP John Grogan told the meeting that the flood-hit people of Barlby and Selby deserved nothing less than the latest, state-of-the-art flood defences to protect them and future generations.

Swift action would also be needed to see communities through the winter.

The area had been placed firmly on the international map by the crisis and should use that status to get the best deal it can, he said.

He revealed he had been working with Selby District Council to set up a meeting of all the agencies involved in the crisis on December 8 to address the needs of each community - with Barlby top of the list.

He also wants residents to be kept fully informed and to meet regularly with those agencies.

He said Wainhomes had a "tremendous moral responsibility" to help residents on its Barlby estate and questioned why they were able to build the development as they did when flood concerns had been raised at the planning stage.

Environment minister Elliot Morley was in discussion with the Association of British Insurers as to current claims and future cover.

A better warning system, possibly involving volunteer flood wardens, was also needed.

Bosses at the Hazlewood Foods factory, which was flooded, had given assurances they were staying put, allaying earlier fears they might pull out leaving a gap in the job market.