The Environment Agency (EA) has begun work to strengthen flood banks along the River Aire in East Yorkshire.

The £7.5 million project will repair damage to the bank caused by flooding over the Christmas period last year.

An 800-metre length of floodbank at Carlton will be reinforced using five-metre steel sheet piles, which will be driven into the bank using heavy machinery and will stop the structure seeping at high water levels. Similar works are being carried out on a shorter 400-metre section of bank upstream at West Haddlesey.

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Further works to reinforce the bank at Temple Hirst will begin in September.

Lee Riley-Thompson, project manager at the EA, said: "The steel sheet piles we are using will be driven as far as possible into the ground, which is a quieter technique we use to minimise any disruption. Due to the nature of the ground some hammering will be required however none of these works are in close proximity to local residents and therefore noise should not be an issue. These works are part of our aim to get all our defences back to standard for the winter season."

(LM/CD)