WORCESTERSHIRE MEP Liz Lynne has added her voice to calls for more to be done to counter flooding in Upton-upon-Severn.

"One year on from the worst floods for 50 years, we are still not seeing enough action to tackle the flooding risk in many areas across the West Midlands, especially along the River Severn," she said.

"The Government has to realise it is cheaper to tackle the causes of flooding than to spend millions on clear-up operations after the event. How many more times must we see flooding in places like Ironbridge, Melverley, Bridgnorth, Worcester and Upton before they get the message?"

She said the £51 million to fight flooding pledged to the nation by John Prescott in Upton during last year's floods was "not enough to make a difference".

"They need to recognise that the problem of flooding is no longer a seasonal phenomenon," she continued.

She is recommending a national task force be set up to handle the problem of flooding, with tighter planning controls for developments in areas like Upton, and the introduction of Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDS).

SUDS uses 'soft' engineering to control runoff water by bulding roads and car parks out of permeable materials.

She also wants to see the introduction of ecological measures, such as long-term targets set for greenhouse gas reduction, more wetland and woodland restoration and collection of rainwater for domestic use.