People could be kept waiting to move back into their homes as flood repairs to historic buildings are dragged out for three years.

English Heritage has offered £40,000 a year for the next three years to help repair listed properties in Lewes.

But Andrew Small, lead councillor for planning at Lewes District Council, said the grant was not big enough and he wanted £100,000 in the first year instead, followed by smaller instalments.

He said: "People cannot get back into their homes until this work is completed.

"They cannot wait in the queue for three years. What is offered by English Heritage does not deal with the immediate problem.

"The money needs to be front-loaded so we can get people back in their homes."

Many residents are still waiting to return to their homes which were swamped during the floods in October, the worst to hit Sussex for decades. Several business properties are also still empty because it is impossible to work in them.

The buildings, many of which are in the High Street of the historic town, are eligible for funding from English Heritage because of their listed status. Under conditions set by the grants, Lewes District Council has to match the amount.

A spokeswoman for English Heritage said the council had been given what it had asked for.

She said: "They applied for a standard grant which is an equal amount of money given during three years. They only changed their mind and asked for it to be front-loaded at the last minute. If they had asked sooner we would have considered it although admittedly we rarely give them out."

Repairs to listed properties have to be carried out with materials as authentic to the age of the building as possible, such as plasterboard made of horse hair. Work includes rendering of brickwork and plastering using specialised craftsmen.

Damage is particularly bad in buildings with cellars which were submerged.

The grant is part of a £9 million package for towns across the country affected by last year's floods.

Coun Small said the council would provide matched funding from its budget because it had no other choice and no other organisations to turn to for help.

He said: "This package of grant aid seems more Government accountancy rules. It doesn't match up to what the town needs now to deal with the vast programme of work wreaked by the flood to so many of its historic buildings."