THE Government is being urged to return thousands of pounds in landfill tax to help Devon flood victims.

Ottery St Mary councillor Roger Giles has asked the county council to seek the return of more than £54,000.

The charges were made to remove flood debris from Ottery following the devastating freak floods in the town last October.

More than 1,700 tonnes of mud, stones and other debris was taken in lorries by Devon County Council to landfill at a cost of £130,000.

County council executive member for environment, Margaret Rogers has agreed to raise the question of a cash refund with Whitehall after she was approached by Cllr Giles. He said: "The money can be used towards something productive such as flood defence work in the Otter Valley.

"Landfill tax of £32 per tonne and amounting to £54,400 was paid to the Government. Many people are horrified to learn that the county council was required to pay the Government as a result of the flooding.

"It does seem wrong that communities that have suffered the extreme misery of a major flooding event should then find that their county council has been penalised by the Government for cleaning up the flood damage and debris.

"I hope very much that the Government will recognise that the circumstances in East Devon on October 30, 2008, were quite exceptional, and that there is a compelling case for returning the landfill tax payment to be used for something constructive."