FLOOD victims in Otley are warning that the town is ill-prepared to cope any better this year.

Many local homes had to be evacuated last autumn and winter due to the River Wharfe bursting its banks - with some of those affected still waiting to move back in.

There were widespread calls following the worst incident, on Boxing Day, for measures to be taken to ensure Otley was better protected next time around.

Residents on Farnley Lane and Bridge Avenue, however, say precious little has been done.

Bridge Avenue householder Rachelle Atkin said: "We are now just eight weeks away from when the first 2015 flood happened in mid November last year.

"Drains have still not been cleared and the River Wharfe is still full of trees and other debris - these are basic things that should have been done months ago to alleviate any issues to local homes and businesses this winter.

"I'm pleased Otley Town Council* has implemented its own floods review, however actions that come from that next year could be too late.

"Leeds City Council and the Government need to take action quickly otherwise a repeat could happen and millions of pounds again will be spent on re-instatement, rather than prevention.

"My family have only just moved back into our home from the Boxing Day floods and have implemented our own flood resilience measures, as have our neighbours, with the help of funding from Leeds - which we are all very grateful for.

"However, there is more that needs to be, and can be, done."

Neighbour Leonie Sharp, whose home is still being worked on after being flooded on Boxing Day, added: "It's the end of September now and no flood prevention measures have been put in place except for the things we're doing ourselves to our own properties."

Environment Agency officer Amy Porter said: “We’ve done a full assessment of the stretch of the River Wharfe at Otley as part of our flood recovery work in the area and there is nothing there that we deem to be an immediate risk to flooding.

“There was some tree debris near the weir earlier this year but it had washed away when we did an inspection in June.

“There is a shoal island of trees and grass we are continuing to monitor. It has been there a long time and the Wharfe at this point is at its widest so it is not causing an immediate flood risk.

"We will continue to monitor the island and will take action if required."

A spokeswoman for Leeds City Council, meanwhile, said drains in the area were scheduled to be cleaned soon.

Hopes of Government help for Wharfedale communities were dashed last week when its flooding review was published and barely mentioned Yorkshire.

*The Town Council has teamed up with Oxford University on a £50,000 flooding research project which begins this month.