Flood defences in parts of Lewes might not be modernised because the town does not score enough points on the Government's scale of at-risk communities.

Campaigners have described the prospects of getting new defences to protect the areas west of Cliffe Bridge and around North Street as "bleak to very bleak".

Following a meeting with officials at the Environment Department, they said there was no chance of work at Landport, North Malling or Malling Deanery.

Only one scheme, at Malling Brooks - an area devastated in the autumn 2000 floods - is certain to go ahead, although the cost has doubled to about £1.6 million.

Work on defences for the Cliffe area, also badly hit in 2000, is unlikely to start for another two years and the scheme has yet to win funding.

Tom Crossett of campaign group Lewes Flood Action said the points system used to prioritise flood defence money did not take account of human suffering.

He said: "The trauma in Lewes is still here. The ministers have gone away but a lot of local people are still very spooked.

"They thought something was going to be done and it is not for a large chunk of the population. This is a very major threat to the prosperity and vitality of Lewes."

The Environment Agency said Malling Brooks scored highly on the Government's scale because of the number of homes at serious risk.

Rupert Clubb, flood defence manager for Sussex, said the Cliffe area had scored lower and the other two at-risk town centre zones lower still.

Mr Clubb said: "I understand people's concern as we approach the third anniversary of the floods. What I would say is, we have got to remember the events of October 2000 were bizarre in that it was the wettest winter since records began.

"The agency is continuing to work on the strategy to make sure the best defences for Lewes are provided on economic, technical and environmental grounds."

The agency is reviewing its flood defence strategy for Lewes, unveiled last summer, to take account of new Government advice and expects to publish the revised document before November.

Improved flood defences at Landport, North Malling and Malling Deanery were not included in the strategy.