A Government competition calling for new ideas to help stop flooding in Cumbria has been criticised as time-wasting.

Flood campaigners instead want to see experts brought in to come up with urgent solutions.

Defra has published data from the Eden catchment, and is asking the public for "creative ideas" to help prevent future flooding.

The new nationwide competition is aimed at academic experts, insurance companies, water companies, technology and consultancy companies, as well as non-government environmental organisations.

Entrants have been given access to river catchment data to consider how best to tackle flooding in Cumbria. The competition is focused on practical solutions and bold innovation.

But Stephen Gibbs, of Carlisle Flood Action Group, believes it is wasting valuable time to protect the county. He instead wants to see a global firm brought in to come up with tried and tested solutions tailored for Cumbria.

The group is also calling for a new catchment authority to be set up to manage the problems at a local level. Dr Gibbs, its chairman, does not believe the authorities currently responsible for flood protection have the expertise or resources needed to do this.

He said: "They must not run this competition. They must get the professionals in. What I would say is get out of the road. Let us take over and raise the money to bring in the professionals.

"Why go out and build a car ourselves when we can go to the showroom and buy one that already works?"

Defra said the Government will consider how any of the ideas put forward could be applied to real world flood management.

Defra chief scientist Ian Boyd said: "This competition is a fantastic opportunity for some of the best and brightest talent around the UK to use this vast resource to help us keep communities, families and homes safer from flooding. It will also help improve our understanding of the nation's natural environment."

The competition was launched at Defra’s Nobel House in London earlier this week. It included sessions were held on river modelling research, the power of open data and latest technologies. It runs until September 30.