FLOODING risk in Merseyside is set to quadruple if urgent action is not taken to tackle climate change, it was warned last night.

The sea level is due to rise by 32cms and the average summer temperature increase by almost 4°C unless global warming is curbed.

Beaches at areas like Formby and ecological havens like Ince Marsh would be under particular threat if trends continue on their current course.

The news comes as the Government attempts to rally support for tough measures to be taken by world leaders to tackle the problem.

Climate change minister Joan Ruddock last night said: “It really is make or break time on climate change.”

The Government predicts that within 30 years there would be less than 13% less rainfall in the summer leading to subsidence, lower crop yields and water stress.

Prof Philip Woodworth, of the Liverpool-based Proudman Oceanograhic Laboratory, said: “If the sea level goes up by 30cm, the risk of flooding goes up by a factor of four. Most of the Liverpool and Wirral coast is behind walls and have been for years. It means that you have to raise defences pretty much by the same amount [to offer the same protection].

“There are some low lying areas of land in this part of the world that are environmentally interesting like Ince Marsh, at Runcorn – which is important to many European birds.”