The Government today made cash available to build flood defences in Lewes within the next 12 months.

The announcement increases the pressure on the Sussex Flood Defence Committee to draw up proposals which pass strict guidelines laid down by the Environment Agency.

These include a guarantee any works will not increase the risk of flooding elsewhere in the county.

Floods minister Elliot Morley included the Lewes project in next year's Flood and Coastal Defence Budget, which has increased by £22 million.

He said the onus was now on planners to produce a scheme which meets the set criteria. It is currently examining proposals for wall raising in the town centre.

The committee is also considering a downstream flood plain or upstream storage for water.

Plans for flood defences in Bulverhythe, near Bexhill, were also included in the list of projects for next year.

Mr Morley said: "There is a great deal of work to be done and details worked out on some important schemes. However, extra money is there which will enable extra protection to be brought forward."

He also confirmed new rules for allocating funding to flood defence schemes.

In future, more weight will be given to how many people could be protected by new defences, rather than the value of property.

The old system meant it was easier for areas with more expensive buildings to win funding.