RESIDENTS who fear they will be hit by flooding similar to New Orleans are urging council action.

Much of the Thamesmead area is four metres below the level of the Thames at high tide and there are fears a catastrophe like the one which hit the southern states of America could happen there.

And residents fear the council is reducing flood defences by allowing building on grazing marsh which would provide some protection in a deluge.

But Thamesmead resident Tim Chapman says he would like to see the council strengthen barriers and protect grazing marshes.

He said: "We are worried but not to the point of panic. I wish the council would do more to protect its own citizens."

Former chairman of the Saint's Residents' Association in Thamesmead John Wylie said: "I don't think the council has had it as a priority. The cost would be too much for a small community.

"It would only be us in Thamesmead who got our feet wet."

Mr Chapman is also worried about the possible health risk from dirty water flooding the area, similar to what was seen in the wake of Hurricane Kartina.

The 49-year-old firefighter said: "We are four metres below tide level, it will be the same as New Orleans.

"There are so many nasty, dirty industries in this area."

The father-of-two is concerned by Environment Agency (EA) claims about the risk of the area being hit by a flood which could top the defences.

An agency spokesman says the current defences are guaranteed until 2030.

He said "The risk of flooding is very small but the consequences would be huge."

A council spokesmen said:"At Greenwich we take the issue of flooding seriously, and it is something we consider carefully.

"There is a requirement for a flood risk assessment with every new development."

The Thames Barrier is one of the defences against rising water levels in London but it is estimated it would cost £4b to keep the existing flood defences at their current effectiveness until 2100.

Its use has shot up from four times in the first five years of its life, between 1983 to 1989, to 18 times in 2003 alone.