The flooding threat hanging over Ryedale could prevent scores of fresh jobs being created at a redundant clothing factory.

The Malton Clothing Factory in Welham Road, Norton - which was flooded when the River Derwent burst its banks in 1999 - has been up for sale since it closed in March this year.

Almost 90 members of staff were axed when it was shut down as a result of increasingly competitive market conditions and rationalisation by its owners, the Tasou Group. Some employees lost their jobs altogether while others transferred to another factory owned by the same group in Driffield.

The future plans of the building and site have not yet been decided, but it could create vital fresh employment for Norton and Malton people if its new owners decide to re-open it as a factory.

However, current owner Peter Tasou admits that the threat of renewed flooding is putting off potential buyers.

He told the Evening Press: "Of course the flood threat is putting people off. They are worried about it, they have been quite honest about it and that is why it is taking so long to sell.

"It is an excellent site and building, but people are aware of what happened last year."

Mr Tasou backed the Evening Press Save Ryedale From Flooding petition, saying: "I and everyone else wants to see the town protected, to hopefully stop anything like last year's flooding ever happening again."

The campaign, calling for urgent action to prevent flooding in Ryedale towns including Malton and Norton, won further backing last night from Norton Town Council

"Ryedale people were hit very badly by the floods last year, and I think we should do all we can to stop this happening again," said Councillor Margaret Taylor, Mayor of Norton.