VITAL work to protect a small town from flooding should be speeded up, a councillor has demanded.

Craven Liberal Democrat David Whipp is urging the Environment Agency to press ahead with a scheme to protect Earby.

The Pendle councillor said: “More than two years after problems were highlighted, we are still waiting for any effective action on the choked Victoria Clough culvert.

“The scheme to repair the culvert, which is 90 per cent blocked at one point, is beset by endless delays.

“The EA must treat this with greater urgency.as confirmed at a regional flooding committee last week.

“The general election is likely to cause further delays with £215,000 of flood resilience work in Earby as the minister concerned has insisted that all the projects have to be signed off by him.

“The way this is being dealt with is a nightmare.”

Cllr Whipp added: “There is some good news in the longer term for Earby.

“We’ve been successful at Pendle Council in getting a £600,000 European funding bid for flood work through to the second round. ”