Residents in Osney, Oxford, gave a big hint about the flood protection they want when they arranged for a flood barrier to be delivered from Scotland.

The temporary air filled barrier was placed next to the river in East Street to demonstrate its potential to save homes on the island from flooding.

The demonstration was organised as residents expressed disappointment in the city council's long awaited investigation into the floods in July.

Richard Thurston, chairman of Osney Island Residents' Association, said he was unhappy that the council was proposing to allocate only £50,000 to buy pumps, clear ditches and buy sandbags.

He said: "The proposal to clear ditches in Wolvercote is welcome. But I'm far from convinced that the emphasis on purchasing more sandbags is sufficient."

The city will also be asking the Government to hand over £114,000 to meet the costs of the floods.

Susanna Pressel, city councillor for Osney and Jericho, said: "As usual, the council report spends a lot of time analysing the last flood event and deciding how it could have been better handled. The most urgent thing is to reduce the risk of future flooding.

"But it is a relief to see an action plan at last. There now needs to be a target date and officers name next to each action proposed."

The cost of the barrier is £2,500 per 10 metres - less than the city council estimate which put the cost of temporary barriers at between £500,000 and £1m.

Residents believe temporary barriers could be put up in East Street and West Street.

Nigel Bray, of the Environment Agency, attended the demonstration, and said he was optimistic about winning funding for temporary barriers in Oxford.

Meanwhile, a row over the Government's failure to meet the cost of July's floods is centring on 'a pledge' made by Gordon Brown at Prime Minister's Questions.

Oxfordshire council leaders have challenged Comm- unities Secretary Hazel Blears to look at the Prime Minister's comments to MPs at the peak of the flooding Angered at the Government's refusal to reimburse flood hit areas, local council leaders are to write again, urging Mrs Blears to honour Mr Brown's promise of "100 per cent relief".

The council leaders believe the commitment was made on July 25 when Mr Brown was challenged in the Commons by Conservative leader and Witney MP David Cameron about the level of support for councils.

Oxfordshire councils are £4m out of pocket after the floods damaged roads, bridges and schools.

In her reply to a plea for assistance from Oxfordshire council leaders, Mrs Blears said their hopes may have been based on a misunderstanding of a complicated reimbursement formula.

Oxfordshire County Council leader, Keith Mitchell, has proposed a second joint letter questioning how her response tallies with what Mr Brown said.