More than 20 farmers and landowners met with Mr Knight, county councillors Felicity Temple and Geoff Pickering, and NFU environment advisor, Laurie Norris, NFU county chairman for York East, John Gatenby, and senior group secretary for Driffield NFU, Andrew Scott, at High Thorn Farm, in North Frodingham.

The farm was just one of many hit by last years flooding and the meeting gave farmers the chance to voice their concerns over future flooding prevention, as well as a range of rural issues including new pesticide legislation proposed by the EC and the government's decision on badger culling.

The meeting came just hours after the government's decision not to allow the culling of badgers across England to curb TB in cattle.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Knight said: "It's useful for me to hear first hand what their concerns are and the fact that they have given up their own time from their own farms to meet me shows the level of concern they have.

"The flooding issue is one which really does need to be fully addressed.

"We have had some recommendations from PITT and Felicity Temple and Geoff Pickering are here to make sure that all the agencies pull together and have proper co-ordination in tackling these issues."