Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has been urged to order a strategic study of the Ouse and Uck river systems to develop better flood defences.

Lewes Lib Dem MP Norman Baker made the demand in the House of Commons.

He said businesses in the town were losing £3 million pounds a day because of the floods.

Mr Baker said: "They and the residents of Lewes want a pledge from the Government that there will be a strategic overview of the river Ouse and Uck system and that when recommendations are made, the Government will find the money to introduce those improvements so there is no repetition of the floods which hit my constituency."

Mr Prescott said he was aware of the problems faced by private property owners in the flood areas of Sussex.

Chichester Conservative MP Andrew Tyrie called for housebuilding plans for Sussex to be scaled down to stop homes being built on flood plains.

Bexhill and Battle Tory MP Charles Wardle urged the Government to ensure local councils quickly received financial aid to meet the cost of dealing with the floods.

Ministers have pledged to do this and are to publish new guidance to restrict homes being built in flood plains.

Bognor and Littlehampton Tory MP Nick Gibb called for better sea defences after the recent tornadoes which hit the West Sussex coast.