LIBERAL Democrats in York are demanding a review into the causes of this month's floods and the quality of the reaction to the crisis.

The Liberal Democrats intend to table a motion, at Tuesday's full council meeting, thanking those who came to the aid of the city during the crisis, but calling for a fundamental review of flood defences and equipment available to the council to deal with civil emergencies.

Council leader Rod Hills also intends to praise the efforts of all those who worked hard to help.

Liberal Democrat leader Steve Galloway said: "It is important that, while memories are fresh, a full investigation is undertaken and plans laid to avoid a repetition in the future.

"Unless we can guarantee that the flood protection systems will be improved quickly, some people may also face the kind of double whammy recently experienced by people in Malton."

Coun Hills said a full review of Silver Command, which co-ordinated York's emergency responses, and Gold Command, based at Northallerton, is due to be undertaken. The organisations drew together the efforts of the Army, utilities, council, emergency services, Environment Agency and many others to produce a co-ordinated response to flooding in York.

Coun Hills said: "We don't have the power to have a review as such, but Silver and Gold Command themselves will be having a review of what happened both in terms of the adequacy of current protection and particularly in terms of the houses that were actually flooded.

"In the Rawcliffe area it's quite clear that the water came over the top of the barrier which was unexpected. That's an area we will expect to be looked at."

Silver Command is also planning to stage training exercises to be better prepared in the future, said Coun Hills.

The Liberal Democrats are also keen to see an early financial response from central government.

Coun Hills said: "The Government has already announced that help will be forthcoming both in terms of £52 million on top of the £400 million already available."

Central Government is also expected to help with the cost of the clean-up process.

The council meeting is expected to hear a report from David Atkinson - acting chief executive - on the floods and their consequences before all-party support is given to a motion to establish a flood emergency relief fund.