A Stockbridge community group has criticised new Government guidelines aimed at preventing a repeat of last year's flood misery.

Stockbridge Neighbourhood Development Group, which was formed in the wake of last autumn's devastating floods, says the guidelines, aimed at preventing development in high and low risk areas, do not go far enough.

The Government has introduced a number of planning guidelines to try and prevent development in flood plains and ensure that developers provide adequate flood defences in the future.

However, chairman of the Stockbridge group Andrew Abbott said the Government should have gone one step further and made the proposals part of planning law.

He said: "This is virtually what we expected. What they haven't done is put a total ban on building in flood plains, which is what we would like to see, especially in the Aire Valley.

"It just seems like a lot of rhetoric, and unfortunately there is still the problem of more development in the flood plains, not just in Keighley but also across the rest of the country."

He added: "During the floods a helicopter flew down the Aire Valley and reported there was nowhere left for the water to go due to all the development.

"There are 101 ways of avoiding what happened again, it's whether the Government has the money and is willing to invest it."

The guidelines recommended by the Government include:

* Building in flood plains used to hold excess water in times of flood should only be done in exceptional circumstances

* Where lower risk sites are not available for development, adequate flood protection or other measures should be introduced

* Councils should review their development plans in light of the latest flood information made available by the Environment Agency

* Developers to fund the provision and maintenance of flood defences, as well as drainage, to avoid causing a flood risk elsewhere.

Planning Minister Sally Keeble said: "Firm guidance against development in areas that regularly function as flood plains is overdue.

"It will be complemented by the risk-based test that gives clear priority to planning development on land that is not subject to high risk flooding, and avoiding high risk areas unless it is absolutely essential and proper protection can be provided."

She will monitor the impact of the guidelines and consider whether to make them part of planning law by introducing a flooding direction under the current planning acts.

This would require planning authorities to refer applications to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if they propose to ignore the objections of the Environment Agency.

Stockbridge was one of the worst hit areas in the country, with more than 400 people evacuated from their homes.

Mr Abbott said that roughly two out of three people had now returned to their homes.

He added: "People have dealt with it in different ways, but on the whole people in Stockbridge seem to have coped very well with what happened."

Stockbridge Neighbourhood Development Group is holding a free family fun day, with children's games, sports events, stalls, face painting, food and a disco, at Marley, on Sunday, August 19, from 1-4.30pm.

Anyone interested in helping on the day or taking part in the sports activities can contact Mr Abbott on 01535 691388 or Joan O'Hara on 01535 667566.

Residents Harry and Sue Brewer are also planning a "drying out" party at their Bradford Road home this Sunday to thank those people who have helped them since their property was flooded.