Flood victims have complained that the Government has left them down - seven years after their homes were ravaged by water.

Residents of Uckfield are still awaiting flood defences to protect their town after it was swamped in 2000.

Despite numerous meetings, models costing thousands of pounds and debates with the Environment Agency, nothing has been done to prevent the devastation occuring again.

Even the town's mayor has admitted to The Argus she feels "demoralised" and campaigners are now placing the blame squarely at the door of Number 10.

Bill Crotty, from Uckfield Action Against Flooding, said: "It's amazing the Government hasn't got any money for this when they can spend billions invading Iraq.

"£100 million a year over about ten years would sort out our flooding problems nationwide, which is peanuts comparatively.

"I appreciate the NHS, education and security have to be prioritised but for all that they've spent on the NHS and the roads things haven't improved.

"Meanwhile we've had seven years of disappointment.

"The Environment Agency has had its budget cut and Uckfield is at the bottom of its list for anything to be done.

"They have a points system and we don't get many points, despite the massive flood."

Homes and businesses in Uckfield found themselves underwater during the same floods that drenched Lewes in October 2000.

But Uckfield mayor Louise Eastwood said that while money was pouring into Lewes' flood defences, nothing has been spent on Uckfield because its houses are not worth as much.

With the Government cutting the Environment Agency's budget any work was now becoming unlikely.

Coun Eastwood said: "We are getting nowhere fast and I have to say it was quite upsetting to hear Lewes is getting all their help and we're not.

"It is demoralising. At night I'll listen to the rain pouring down with my mobile by my bed and I'm just waiting for that phone call.

"We know its going to happen again because historically it always floods in Uckfield. It's just a waiting game."

Plans to build a wall to protect the town centre if the River Uck bursts its banks again, behind high street store Somerfield, stalled last year.

While the scheme did not meet the national criteria for funding officials had agreed to pay for it locally.

But the Environment Agency said the supermarket raised objections to the designs and requested financial compensation it couldn't afford.

For residents living nearby this was just another disappointment after hearing they were less likely to get defences than their neighbours because they had less expensive and historic homes.

Mr Crotty said: "When you're down the bottom of the pile you can't help but think it's wrong. There should be a plan for the whole country.

"If you happen to be standing in a foot of water in your front room you can't help argue against this.

"It makes our blood boil. We've had umpteen meetings but nothing's been done."

Robert Clubb, Sussex Area Manager at the Environment Agency, said Uckfield had flooded at least nine times in the last 50 years.

He said: "Uckfield town centre is prone to flooding because of its geographical setting and the extent of building on its floodplain.

"We have looked carefully at how we might be able to reduce flood risk in Uckfield and the only feasible option is to build a low wall around the Somerfield car park. This would reduce flood risk to around 30 properties.

"Unfortunately this work has been delayed because Somerfield indicated it wanted a level of compensation that would not make the work economically viable.

"We are continuing our discussions with Somerfield and together we are actively trying to find a solution that would enable us to build the wall."