Oxford's historic and "sensitive" landscape is hampering the search for solutions to prevent future flooding.

A top-level report released by the Environment Agency last night painted a bleak picture for the city, with experts predicting the onset of climate change would put those living here at an even greater risk of flooding.

It suggested the city would suffer because of its heritage, with complicated architecture getting in the way of building flood defences. The report - a review of this summer's crisis - said there was a "sound business case" for a flood defence strategy in Oxford.

But a catalogue of complications would almost certainly mean a public inquiry and a lengthy wait for progress.

Construction of a major flood defence scheme of any description is unlikely to start before 2015 - with cost being a hefty stumbling block.

Oxford needs "significant" investment, but Environment Agency top brass said the city would get a lot wetter before defences were in place. The cost of a "strategic defence scheme" has been put at £150m, but Oxford is not considered a top priority.

Geoff Bell, the agency's area flood risk manager, said: "Let's be realistic, some poor people have been flooded three times in seven years - if nothing is going to be built for seven years that's another three occasions.

"Money is secondary, the overall solution for Oxford is a mammoth project. It's very complicated because more than one community is affected by floods and what we can't do is a quick fix.

"With climate change, extreme events are going to increase.

"We are doing everything to see what solutions there might be for parts of Oxford but there is never going to be enough money to go round."

July's flooding - which followed the wettest May to July since 1766 - caused chaos in Oxford and beyond with hundreds of houses damaged and scores evacuated in the city, Abingdon and Witney.

Since the flooding, Oxfordshire has received short shrift from the Government and council leaders were told recently Whitehall would not reimburse the cost of the summer emergency operation, estimated to have left the authorities £3.3m out-of-pocket.

And years of limited progress by the Environment Agency and councils has forced homeowners to buy their own flood defence equipment.

The report suggests cities like Sheffield, Leeds and Hull and parts of Gloucestershire and Lincolnshire are considered as, if not more, important than Oxford.

The report said: "The potential for climate change to cause more severe storms and heavier rains could raise flood levels and put homes and business in the city at a greater risk of flooding.

"Developing a flood risk management solution for Oxford will not be easy. The area is very environmentally sensitive in terms of its ecological, archaeological, heritage and landscape value."

Richard Thurston, who lives on the corner of West Street and South Street, Osney, said: "I feel pretty confident there will be some local solutions before 2015, so it's not all doom and gloom."

FLOOD FAMILY HIT BY THIEVES

A family forced to live in a caravan since July following the catastrophic floods have been targeted by burglars.

Caroline and Mark Northcott, of Chaunterell Way, Abingdon, and two of their three children, Shane and Gemma, have been living in a caravan in their front garden.

As the family prepared to celebrate a Christmas out of their home, thieves stole their car, broke into the caravan and took two mobile phones and wallets containing about £300 in cash in the early hours of Saturday.

Mrs Northcott, who was asleep in front of the television just metres away from the burglars, said: "It was so frightening to think I was asleep and they just came in and they robbed me.

"I was a nervous wreck on Saturday, I just couldn't believe it. Just the thought of what might have happened if I had woken up.

"After the summer I'm ready for a breakdown now. I think I'll have it once everything has been sorted. It's unfortunate, but I've still got my house and I'm alive and that's all that really matters at the end of the day."

Her red Rover 400 was reported abandoned at 7.30pm the following day in Cumnor Road, Wootton - badly damaged and thought to have been involved in a collision.

Work has only just started on the family's home.

Daughter Gemma, 16, a student at Abingdon College, said: "I felt really upset about it because I know it meant so much to my mum and dad for this to happen so close to Christmas and because we were dealing with the flood as well.

"It is not only the thought they took our stuff, it's the thought that anything could have happened to my mum."

Anyone with any information should call Dc Rob Underhill on 08458 505505.

PROTECT YOUR HOME

Several homes in Oxfordshire were flooded this summer because they were not sandbagged properly, according to firefighters.

And to drill home the point, fire crews from Rewley Road Fire Station, Oxford, sandbagged a warehouse in Osney Mead.

Watch manager Simon Wonnacottsaid: "It's important to keep the sandbags built up like a pyramid for strength."

Mr Wonnacott added it was key to place the first layer of sandbags on a piece of plastic sheeting, before folding it over and putting more sandbags on top.

Residents wanting more advice can call the Environment Agency's floodline on 0845 988 1188.

Other tips include plugging sinks, turning off gas, electricity and water, moving furniture, carpets, rugs and electrical equipment upstairs.