Prince Charles will not visit flood-hit Ryedale tomorrow.

A spokesman for the Prince confirmed that "he is unable" to make it to the devastated region.

Instead, he will see areas of York and Selby scarred by the deluge.

Now a number of residents in Ryedale, which has seen flooding twice in 18 months, have branded the decision "disgusting".

John Rushworth, owner of the Derwent Arms in Norton, said: "It is shocking when you think that so many residents and business owners have had the flood twice.

"You've got to ask whether this decision has been taken because York is the bigger place and takes all the limelight."

During the floods, Mr Rushworth saw his cellar fill with ten feet of stagnant flood water. His drainage system is still flooded.

He said: "We want to know if he's really interested in the floods or is he just looking for publicity. What is definite is that television had plenty of interest in Malton and Norton when they were flooded, but as soon as York got it, they went there. It's disgusting, it really is."

Norton Mayor Margaret Taylor said she was "extremely disappointed" the Prince was not coming to the town.

"It would be very good if he could come along to see us," she said.

"A lot of people have suffered in the flooding and they are now faced with the horrible job of cleaning up.

"It would give them a bit of a morale boost if the Prince of Wales was to come and see them.

"York is so close it wouldn't take that long for him to come and see us - even if he just came for half an hour and saw what the people here had gone through."

The Prince's spokesperson said he had visited Malton and Norton within the last 18 months, but had not been to the other three areas "for a while."

She said: "He was very keen to go and see the flood-hit areas for himself, but it is difficult for him and unfortunately he can't get to all the places that have been affected."

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