A regional daily has demanded Boris Johnson acts to prevent flooding on its patch five years after it issued a similar warning to the government.

The Yorkshire Evening Post says Leeds had a “narrow escape” from disaster in the wake of Storm Ciara – but that it “may not be so lucky” next time.

The YEP published a similarly critical editorial in the aftermath of the Boxing Day 2015 floods, but little has since been done.

Editor Laura Collins made reference to the past flooding in a front page comment published on Monday.

She wrote: “It was an eerie sense of deja vu for our great city as the river levels continued to rise posing a threat that the beating heart of the Northern Powerhouse would once again find itself submerged.

“Work on flood alleviation schemes continues but why is it taking so long to provide the full defence it so desperately needs? After all, defences in 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, potentially, lessen the likelihood of trains on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines – two of the busiest commuter lines in the North – being halted because of flooding at Kirkstall.

“They said then that ‘money was no object’. Yet now Leeds is once again on flood alert – thankful that it had a narrow escape – perhaps in turn due to the work already underway on flood protection.

“Five years ago this newspaper issued a warning to the Government at the time to look at investing in protecting our city. However, it is simply unthinkable that we find ourselves in the same position yet again.

“As the black sludge and the river levels recede we call on you Prime Minister to commit the cash to give the city of Leeds the flood protection it deserves. It shouldn’t take another flooding disaster, Boris Johnson, for you to act.”

HTFP has approached Downing Street for a comment.