DEPUTY Prime Minister John Prescott has vowed to return to Ryedale next year to meet with disaster-hit residents and discuss options for a full flood defence scheme.

But he stopped short of committing to the installation of a scheme, when he visited washed out Norton yesterday. Mr Prescott said: "I am aware of the Evening Press campaign for a flood defence scheme and that a petition was handed to the Prime Minister yesterday.

"I have spoken to him about it, and I can say now that I will return here as soon as the report from the Environment Agency is finished, to discuss all the issues with the community."

Mr Prescott was confronted by angry residents including Harold Darley, of Robson's Garage, Welham Road.

He berated Mr Prescott over Government cash to help business owners cover for monies lost through flooding.

He said: "There is Government money set aside for this so when are we going to see some of it?

"When will the talking stop and the doing start? The last time you were talking about defences but nothing has happened and you talked about money to help people who had been flooded, but we never saw so much as a bucket and sponge around here."

Seeming genuinely shocked by the Norton residents' plight, Mr Prescott said that he would use what he had seen in the town as "an example of what can be learned from these flooding tragedies."

He added: "I do feel for the people here. It is the little things I have seen, the efforts people have made in an attempt to keep the floods out. It helps you begin to understand how desperate this situation is."

Ryedale MP John Greenway, also in Norton for the Deputy Prime Minister's visit, said he believes Mr Prescott's promise to return to the town.

Mr Greenway said: "This latest flood shows that this is not a once in 60-year problem, as has been said - there is a serious problem here and something needs to be done. I believe the Deputy Prime Minister when he says he will return and, between the two of us, we can progress on this."

Despite being confronted by a number of angry residents, Mr Prescott seemed to earn their respect by wading into waist high flood water to inspect inundated homes.

Sid Youngson, who confronted Mr Prescott on the corner of Welham Road, said: "I was pleased he had a good look at all the damage. I'm sure it had an effect on him."

Di Keal, of St Nicholas Street, said: "He was very positive and I think the visit has helped him understand what we are going through. Now, we want to see the words turned into action."

Former Mayor of Malton, Martin Dales, said: "I wrote to Mr Prescott just yesterday to say a state of emergency should be declared in Ryedale, so this must be one of the quickest responses ever. I am pleased he is here and that he recognised the fantastic effort being put in by the emergency services."

Ryedale District Council's chief executive, Harold Mosley, said Mr Prescott coming to see the devastation was a good thing.

He added: "Now, let's get him back here as quickly as possible. We can't have this happening every year."