Householders packed a meeting to campaign for better flood defences.

More than 300 people crowded into Lewes Town Hall for the meeting held by Lewes Flood Action.

The group was there to launch a nationwide letter-writing campaign to demand more money from the Government for towns at risk from flooding.

It hopes to collect more than 5,000 letters from Lewes alone. These will be delivered to the Chancellor and used to support an Early Day motion by Lewes MP Norman Baker.

Mr Baker spoke at the meeting last Thursday, as did representatives from the Environment Agency and local authorities.

Lewes Flood Action dismissed the £2.4 million flood defence scheme for the Cliffe area of the town as a "drop in the ocean".

East Sussex County Council admitted the western part of town, including North Street, The Pells, Landport, North Malling and Malling Deanery, will remain undefended.

Council taxpayers from Kent, Sussex and Hampshire will pay for the scheme but campaigners say the Government should also fund defences.

Peter Atkins, of Lewes Flood Action, said: "Lewes is the sort of town that should be protected as a whole. It is absurd chopping it up into chunks.

"We also know the funding is insecure because it has to be ratified every year by all the South-East county councils."

To sign the letters, visit www.lewes-flood-action.org.uk or call 01273 476230.