Angry residents have criticised a major new flood defence plan after officials admitted it would protect some areas more than others.

A flood strategy for Lewes was unanimously approved by the Sussex Flood Defence Committee yesterday.

Work could begin next year subject to Government approval.

The two-pronged strategy will involve raising river walls and embankments and channelling the River Ouse through the historic town.

In the longer term, a flood plain will be created on open farmland south of the A27 and north of Rodmell.

Lewes Flood Action said the plans failed to provide adequate protection for certain areas and meant some residents would still face difficulties getting property insurance.

The pressure group said certain areas in Lewes and Uckfield would fail to benefit.

Spokesman Leslie Goode said: "For important areas of Lewes, and what I would call the commercial and social hub, I would have to say what is on the table is inadequate.

"If businesses in the Cliffe area cannot get insurance, what is the point of it?"

Peter Midgley, the Environment Agency's area manager for Sussex, admitted the standard of defence would be better in some areas than others.

He accepted the plan would not provide adequate protection for a town like Uckfield, if it were to suffer a repeat of the autumn 2000 floods.

Mr Midgley said: "We want to run the two projects in parallel but given the changes we would be talking about, it is likely to take longer to achieve what we want south of the town than it would to potentially raise the walls."

He said raising the walls would increase protection, particularly in the south and centre of Lewes, and would not prejudice other areas.

He said: "We have got to be realistic and, given the changes we are talking about we need, two, three or four years longer to achieve the second part of the strategy."

Lewes MP Norman Baker said: "It is good, at last, that there is a definite plan carrying forward a flood defence strategy for Lewes but we are 12 months behind where we should be."

Mr Midgley said public meetings would be held for residents of all areas affected but warned the majority of the strategy had already been decided.