A flood-risk exhibition has been ridiculed as a "waste of time" by a crowd of angry protesters.

Caravans displaying advice on reducing flood impact stood in Lewes town centre as more than 100 people challenged Environment Agency representatives over the lack of flood action.

Five years ago the town was devastated by floods and despite being a high-risk area, the Government announced last week there will be no cash for extra defences for at least three years.

Some 600 homes and 200 businesses were wiped out during the floods in 2000 and people fear another disaster is imminent.

Residents and traders from Lewes held placards and banners reading Action Not Information and Real Flood Defences For Lewes Now in the town centre yesterday.

Family doctor Duncan Macpherson, vice-chairman of the Lewes Flood Action group and a resident of South Street, said: "There were many more people protesting than looking at the move your plugs a little bit higher' exhibition.

"People were really angry, almost more angry than I have seen for a long time. It's the final blow that there is no money coming to Lewes at all in the foreseeable future. Local residents were there and traders and even people from the top end of the town who are non-risk came to support us.

"The Environment Agency had two large caravans, one was explaining the flood warning system, which is exactly what they have been doing for years, and they had quite a good display of how they are getting better at predicting weather and forecasting.

"Another was a demonstration of new flood doors and some Mickey Mouse stuff about how you can have a power socket higher up the wall.

"I had a go at Andrew Gilham, the Sussex area flood risk manager for the Environment Agency, raising the main issue that it has now been five years since the floods. We were promised funding for Lewes to defend the whole of the town and that promise has simply been broken.

"I told him we were worried and concerned and disappointed and that their caravans were nothing more than window dressing. He responded by saying they had funded defences for the Malling Brooks area but he had to accept there was no central government money any more for Lewes."

Andrew Gilham, of the Environment Agency, said: "Today was very important and we consider it to be a successful event.

"Over 200 people came to see us and went away with information on the work we have done and the steps they can take to reduce the impacts of floods on their homes.

"Despite the protest, we also had some very positive feedback from residents. Information is the most important thing we can offer people because whatever defences we put in place they can be overtopped and people could still be at risk.

"We have been criticised by people who believe we have done little in the five years since the floods but in this time we have worked hard to reduce flood risk in Lewes.

"We have built improved flood defences in the worst affected part of the Malling Brooks area.

"We are continuing to maintain existing flood defences, improving our flood warning service and influencing the building of flood defences alongside new development in the town."