The Deputy Prime Minister has been accused of going "back to sleep" over flooding after the Government ruled out new defences in Lewes for at least three years.

John Prescott claimed that the town was now better protected - just a week after one of his ministers crushed long-held hopes of new flood defences.

Environment Minister Elliot Morley said last week that the Cliffe area did not qualify for flood protection funding despite the fact that much of the area was devastated by floods five years ago.

Mr Prescott ordered Lewes MP Norman Baker yesterday to tell the town's residents that matters had improved.

His comments came after Mr Baker goaded the Deputy Prime Minister's claim in the aftermath of the 2000 floods that they had been a "wake-up call" for the Government.

Mr Baker said: "Does the Deputy Prime Minister recall that in 2000, after my town of Lewes had been badly hit by floods that forced hundreds of people on to the streets, he said that he had had a wake-up call to deal with flood defences?

"Five years on, almost nothing has been done in Lewes to deal with our flood defence problem and nothing is planned for the next few years.

"Has he gone back to sleep after his wake-up call? When is he going to give Lewes the flood defences that it deserves?"

But Mr Prescott claimed the MP was to blame for the lack of defences in Lewes.

He said: "If what he says is true - and I am not sure that it is - the people of Lewes do not have a very effective MP representing them.

"As I said, the Government have doubled resources, enhanced planning procedures and improved the emergency services.

"As the Institution of Civil Engineers says, the situation has improved considerably. Perhaps he should take that into account and tell his constituents about it."

Lewes Flood Action member John Clark, of WE Clark & Son Jewellers, Cliffe High Street, which was flooded in 2000, said: "I think it is absolutely outrageous that Prescott has said this. That is a lie. What is he talking about?

"We have been badgering away for flood defences all this time, we have cooperated with Norman and he has cooperated with us. We have even been up to London to speak with the highest civil engineer at Defra about this. We couldn't have done any more.

"It is a terribly bad sign that Prescott speaks like that. It is arrogance. It's ghastly behaviour. He deserves hauling over the coals for that.

"Whatever people's political colour they all find Norman a good MP. Everyone has to admit that he does a good job. He asks a lot of questions in Parliament for us and keeps it high on the agenda. It wouldn't be so high up if it wasn't for him.

"That is probably why he is getting under Prescott's skin. This just shows how much Norman has affected him."

Since the 2000 floods the Environment Agency began the first phase of works in May 2004 to improve existing defences which involved construction of the Malling Brooks Flood Alleviation Scheme in June.

The work, costing £1.8 million, provided increased flood protection for the area and involved construction of 160 metres of earth embankments and 130 metres of new floodwall.

The embankments and floodwall from the Mayhew Way flyover to Phoenix Causeway were also constructed to stand 30cm higher than the level of water during the 2000 floods.

In November 2004, the Agency completed work to provide a one in 200 standard of protection to the Malling Brooks area, benefiting 237 residential and 49 commercial and public properties.

A spokeswoman said: "We are continuing to maintain the existing flood defences and working with local people to keep the river free from debris."