AN MP is warning of the danger of building on floodplains after the Boxing Day deluge left proposed housing sites looking like lakes.

Stuart Andrew, MP for Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough, gave his warning after a House of Commons debate on the recent floods.

During the debate Mr Andrew highlighted the importance of ensuring Leeds had adequate flood defences, and he joined fellow Leeds MPs in asking for a meeting with the Secretary of State Liz Truss. He also praised the response from the Council, volunteers and businesses.

He told the House "I pay tribute to all of the people at Leeds City Council, the volunteers, businesses and indeed Ministers, who took the time to contact us all, and to Leeds Community Foundation for setting up an appeal that I hope will be supported to help people in Leeds," he said.

But he later cautioned against building on floodplains, citing examples in Guiseley.

"The Council needs to think about how the whole city works, not build on floodplains, and we need to listen to the experience of local people," he said. "The Ings Lane site, where 300 houses are proposed to be built, looked like a lake. In the Wills Gill area, where hundreds of houses are proposed, it was exactly the same picture. If we are going to build there, we need to be sure that we know where the water is going to go."

He added: "The Government have announced a £50m fund to support towns and cities in the aftermath of the storm, and I have been told that Leeds has already received some of this. I would like to assure my constituents that I will continue to support them in any way I can.

“I was pleased to join my fellow MPs from the city, cross-party, in asking for a meeting with the Secretary of State. I was grateful yesterday to hear her commitment that we will have defences and that she will meet us. We must make sure we get it right. We cannot afford for a major economic driver in Yorkshire to be at risk and for these poor people to go through such things again."

Leeds City Council is launching a council tax relief scheme for flooded householders for a minimum of three months, as well as a business rate relief scheme for affected businesses.

Yorkshire Water is suspending charges for customers forced out of their homes until they are able to reoccupy them;

Meanwhile The Sport England Flood Relief Fund will help community sports facilities and The Leeds Flood Relief Appeal have launched a Flood Relief Appeal to support affected householders, businesses and community groups.