A MULTI-MILLION pound funding increase has been announced for flood defences following the June floods but it is still not enough, according to a Worcester campaigner.

Mary Dhonau, of Worcester Action Against Flooding, said she was thrilled by the news of an increase on flood risk management and defences from £600 million to £800 million by 2010 but urged the Government to find even more cash for it.

Ms Dhonau said: "Generally speaking I'm thrilled, because we've had another catastrophic round of floods.

"I still think it's not enough, when you take into account climate change. I would like to see an even larger amount.

"I see the knock-on affect the floods have on people, and we need more money to find solutions to it in the future."

The funding increases will start now and be staggered up to 2010, by which time the Environment Agency will get £800 million every year.

Later in the year, the Government will publish a breakdown of the staggered funding increases.

Worcester MP Mike Foster said: "Spending on flood defences by the Government has doubled since 1997.

"It won't just be a jump from £600 million to £800 million, it will be annual funding increases so we reach that point by 2010.

"It is a real commitment to spending on flood defences, and it's also important to note these are not one-off increases," he said.

A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said: "We welcome the announcement that funding from the Government will be increased, and now need to start to look at just how it will be spent."

The announcement about more funding comes just days after torrential floods which wrecked parts of Britain.

Several areas of Worcestershire were hit by the floods when the rivers Teme and Severn burst their banks.

Judge Eric Dickinson died, aged 68, when his car was swept away by flood waters near Pershore.

Nationwide, the flooding caused an estimated £1 billion worth of damage to 27,000 homes and 5,000 businesses.