Specialist contractors have started ground investigation works to determine the design and route of a flood relief channel, the Environment Agency has announced.

Work is underway on digging 130 boreholes and trial pits for Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme's proposed flood channel.

The works are taking place on land between Oxford's Botley Road and Sandford in Kennington, the two points where the channel will leave and re-enter the River Thames.

The trial pits will be approximately 1m wide, 3m long and up to 3.5m deep. Boreholes will be 15cm in diameter and up to 10m deep.

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The investigations will provide important data on the geology of the area.

Monitors will be placed in some of the boreholes to provide additional information on groundwater levels and flows.

The work will last for approximately four weeks.

Joanna Larmour, Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme Project Director, said: "Added to information we gathered in 2009 the results of this work will give us a better understanding of the nature of the rock and soils underlying the area through which the flood relief channel will be excavated.

"The information on groundwater movements will also enhance our existing information and help us model flows with increased accuracy."

All locations will be inspected and approved by an ecologist before work starts to ensure there is no detrimental environmental impact.

The data gathered will also inform the waste management plan for the construction phase of the project which will aim to reuse or recycle as much excavated material as possible.

(LM)