How many more storms must Leeds weather before Government finally listens to our flooding battle? - Laura Collins, YEP Editor

Just one week ago this newspaper warned that our luck could soon run out in the battle to fully protect Leeds from flooding.

Our city was left on tenterhooks as Storm Dennis lashed the country over the weekend. We were hoping and praying that we would not see a repeat of the devastating Boxing Day floods of 2015.

Yet why do we find ourselves in this position once again?

Only a week ago Leeds breathed a collective sigh of relief as Storm Ciara narrowly missed a repeat of the catastrophic flooding scenes of nearly half a decade ago.

For those businesses who have worked hard over the years to rebuild and come back fighting are a testament to their commitment to the community they love to serve.

So it is little wonder that those businesses were once again left holding their breath - for the second time in the space of a week alone - as forecasters predicted another storm was heading the city.

And again they were lucky as the river levels peaked without leaving a trail of destruction for the second time in a matter of days.

Time and time we have been told that the flood prevention schemes are currently planned to achieve a one in 100 year level of protection.

But here we are again as a city crossing our fingers twice in just the space of a week.

Work is ongoing to protect the city and it should be rightly highlighted that perhaps were it not for some of the flood alleviation work that has been carried out that we were able to avoid a repeat of the scenes of 2015.

However, there is still one vital element missing and that is the £23m to ensure our city is fully protected.

These defences in the upper reaches of the River Aire – which this money would fund – would help control the flow of water downstream towards Leeds and, thereby, lessen the risks in the city.

It would help protect our homes and businesses in communities like Kirkstall who are constantly holding their breath whenever there is the threat of heavy rain.

It was only last week that this newspaper’s front page warned the Government that our luck could soon run out and that our city is worth investing in protecting.

Little did I expect that just a week later we would find ourselves in the same position again.

Prime Minister, surely you have to listen to us now?

Or do we have to wait for another disaster - like the scenes we have witnessed across the country in the wake of Storm Dennis - for you to finally take action?

Our city needs this cash shortfall - and it needs it quick. Because at the rate we are going then surely it will only be a matter of time before our luck runs out and we’ll no longer be treading water.