THE Prime Minister has announced an extra £10 million in funding to bolster flood defences in York - and another £30 million on repairing defences on other Yorkshire rivers including the Wharfe and Derwent.

David Cameron was speaking just days after visiting York in the aftermath of the devastating Boxing Day floods, which affected households near the River Foss particularly badly.

Environment Agency officials decided to lift the Foss Barrier at the river's confluence with the Ouse - which was designed to prevent the Foss flooding - after finding that pumps at the barrier were at risk of electrical failure due to water entering the building.

The Prime Minister said: "I have seen at first-hand the devastation caused by flooding. And that's why this work to repair and improve flood defences is so vital.

"We are already spending £280 million over the next six years to protect thousands of houses from flooding in Yorkshire as part of our £2.3 billion investment to protect 300,000 houses across the country.

"But now more than £40 million will be spent to fix those defences overwhelmed by the record rainfall we've seen in recent weeks and to make them more resilient to further bad weather."

The money comes on top of £50 million of funding to help local authorities responding to the flood.

Charities raising cash for communities left devastated over Christmas by the deluge will be matched by the Government up to a total of £2 million, in a move echoing pledges to earlier flooding victims.

The £30 million will be spent on repairing defences on the Calder, Aire, Ouse and Derwent rivers in Yorkshire as well as the Wharfe, which runs through Tadcaster where the storm left the town split in two when an ancient bridge collapsed.

Mr Cameron has also made Transport Minister and Scarborough and Whitby MP Robert Goodwill a "flooding envoy" for Yorkshire to oversee the response in the region and identify what must be done to protect the area in the future.

Mr Goodwill said: "The effects of the flooding in Yorkshire have been devastating and my thoughts are with every person affected by the catastrophic weather we have seen sweep across the North of England this December.

"As a Yorkshireman I am determined to ensure I do everything I can to help protect communities in this area from the devastation flooding can cause. This is about ensuring people get the support they need as they repair their homes and rebuild their businesses."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn claimed during a visit to York last Thursday that the Government 's response to flooding problems over the past five years had been cut to cut funding for flood defences and lay off expert staff from the Environment Agency, adding: "Public investment is for the good of the entire public."

Cllr Andrew Waller, City of York Council's executive member for environment, said he welcomed the announcement of new money, but warned that significant engineering work could be needed at the Foss barrier and pumping station which could cost more than £10 million.

He said that whatever the bill, it was essential the money was found, as it was vital that people living and working along the Foss basin could be confident their properties were fully protected from another devastating flood.