Flood-hit traders fear insurance companies will refuse to renew their policies unless the Environment Agency can show their towns are not high-risk areas.

The concerns were raised as business leaders representing Lewes, Uckfield, Newhaven and surrounding areas met to give their demands to representatives from the agency.

They called on the Government to form an action plan, stating how it will help save businesses from the devastation left by severe flooding in Sussex.

They want ministers to plough more money into bolstering flood defences and give reassurances that everything possible will be done to prevent floods in the future.

At a meeting, organised by Sussex Enterprise, members of the Federation of Small Businesses, Lewes Businesses task force, Chamber of Trade and other traders gathered at the White Hart Hotel, in Lewes, yesterday, to deliver a stern message to the Environment Agency and the Government.

They called on the Government to pressure insurance companies into making swift payouts to damaged firms.

They said insurance firms also needed to hear reassurances from the Environment Agency that the area was not a high-risk flood zone to give them confidence to renew cover policies.