Work is due to begin on a new spillway as part of a flood defence scheme for a canal in Northern England.

The spillway on the Rochdale Canal at Gauxholme is to channel water directly into the Walsden Water if the canal overflows during heavy rainfall.

The £500,000 scheme is being developed by the Environment Agency and work will begin next week.


The project is to take about 18 weeks to complete.

It will complement the £11m final phase of the Todmorden flood alleviation scheme, which reduces the risk of flooding for more than 600 properties in the town.

Janice Friend, Environment Agency Project Manager said: "We're delighted to be starting work on this project, which will address one of the remaining causes of flooding in Todmorden.

The project won't remove the risk of flooding entirely, but it will reduce the likelihood of the level of disruption and damage which was seen in the valley in 2012."

(LM/MH)