MORETON, Chipping Campden and Bourton top a "priority" list of 20 Cotswolds towns and villages worst hit by last summer's floods.

The list is contained in the first major report into the unprecedented flooding that devastated large parts of the Cotswolds on July 20 last year.

Cotswold District Council commissioned the report to help identify exactly where its £240,000 of government flood recovery grant for capital works to prevent future flooding needs to be spent.

It also hopes that other agencies, such as Gloucestershire County Council, will use the report's findings to prioritise their spending on flood prevention work.

The report's authors, Bristol-based consultants Hyder Consulting, have identified those areas worst-affected by the floods and, taking into account the degree of damage caused, have produced an initial priority list for the Cotswolds.

But CDC leaders were quick to stress this week that the top 20 does not mean flood prevention work will necessarily be carried out in that order, or that the other 59 flood-affected locations in the district are being ignored.

CDC customer services director Andy Fotherby said the consultants will be carrying out a more detailed report on the top 20, with a view to prioritising work. This next phase is due to be completed by the end of May.

"They will be meeting people from town and parish councils to get their views, looking at schemes, working with Thames Water, the Environment Agency and Gloucestershire County Council," said Mr Fotherby.

At the same time, the consultants would also be identifying smaller flood prevention schemes, such as ditch clearing, which need to be carried out in other affected areas, he added.

CDC Safe and Strong Communities portfolio holder Clive Bennett said that action to tackle flooding in the district would get underway as soon as possible.

"It's not a talking shop. We are determined to get something done as quickly as possible. We want to see the diggers rolling as soon as possible," said Cllr Bennett.

However, he warned: "Quick fixes will not work in this situation. It's best to take a little longer and get it right. We don't want the events of July 20 to happen again."

Other north Cotswolds villages in the top 20 include Willersey at 6th, Naunton 9th, Lower Slaughter 11th, Weston-sub-Edge 14th and Bledington 20th.

The district council plans to make riparian owners, people who have water courses or ditches running through their land, aware of their responsibilities for making sure they are properly maintained.

It is also appointing a second engineer to work on land drainage issues.

The report, Review of the Summer 2007 floods in Cotswold District, is due to be presented to CDC cabinet members today.

Floods recovery minister John Healey announced on Tuesday that Cotswold District Council will get a further £87,432 from the government.

The money, given under a scheme covering the council's costs dealing with the immediate aftermath of last summer's floods, brings the total government flood recovery money received by CDC to just over £750,000.