Millions more pounds are to be spent on flood defences in the area after local authorities - including Bradford Council - agreed to contribute extra funds.

The Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee (YRDFC) - made up of local authorities in the region - has agreed to contribute ten per cent more to the Environment Agency's (EA) flood budget.

It means more than £38 million will be spent on flood defences in 2002 and 2003 - an increase of over 50 per cent on last year.

People living in Stockbridge, Keighley, where almost 400 residents were swept from their homes in the floods in November 2000, will benefit to the tune of £300,000.

Work has already been completed on dredging part of the River Aire near Stockbridge. More work is to be carried out by the Environment Agency on strengthening the river bank.

John Andrews, of Worth Avenue, Keighley, whose home was flooded, said he understood the agency is planning to put up more metal piles to hold back the river near the Bridge pub.

He said: "I think that should be enough, but nobody really knows until we have a real dowpour.

"I think most people will feel fairly safe when the work is finished."

The EA also intends to spend £25,000 on repairing the River Aire washland defences at Cononley near Skipton, where the river overflows into during flooding.

The YRFDC has also increased plans for longer-term investment in flood defences from £93 million to £208 million over the next ten years.

Chairman Ray Ward said: "I'm particularly pleased that the local authorities have agreed in principle to take a long-term approach to funding for flood defence."

He said the money would be spent on flood defence schemes, maintenance and the development of flood warning systems.

Bradford Council's share of the levy has risen from £1,660.424 to £1,823.254 and North Yorkshire will pay £2,740.983 for 2001-2, instead of £2,496.192.