A major milestone has been reached on a £28 million flood alleviation scheme in Birmingham.

The first phase of works on the Perry Barr & Witton flood scheme is now complete.

Works included rebuilding existing flood walls along Brookvale Road and building new walls alongside Atlas Industrial Estate and Tame Road. Channel improvements have also been carried out to help the river flow more quickly through the area.

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The next stage involves increasing the existing flood storage area at Sandwell Valley Park. The Forge Mill Lake site will see a new embankment built to help control flows down the river during periods of high flow. A planning application is to be submitted in May, with construction planned for early 2018.

Once completed, the project will help protect around 1,400 properties from flooding from the River Tame.

The Environment Agency held a public event to mark the end of the first phase of works on Friday, 10 March.

Ian Jones, Environment Agency Flood Risk Manager, said: "We're delighted for the residents and businesses that the work on the first phase has been completed. Today's event is a great opportunity for partners and the community to come together and mark this important occasion."

(LM/MH)