Breheny Civil Engineering is to begin work on a new £65,000 flood defence scheme in Northumberland.

The three-week scheme involves building a flood embankment to protect homes against a event similar to that experienced by Tyne Green residents during Storm Desmond, where 15 properties were flooded in December 2015.

The work is uniquely funded by residents who have pooled individual grants made available to them following flooding over the winter period of 2015/16.

Chris Hood, Project Manager for the Environment Agency, said: "The start of this work marks the final step in what has been a long and difficult journey for local residents. I would like to thank them for their support and continued patience while we have worked together with Network Rail and others to find the best and most cost-effective solution at Tyne Green.

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"They have used their initiative and all worked together to pool their grants which has allowed us to be able to build this flood bank. We hope this protection afforded by the new defence will now provide local residents with peace of mind when bad weather threatens in the future."

Northumberland County Councillor Glen Sanderson said: "It shows what a big impact Storm Desmond had on our county when improvement schemes are still ongoing more than two years after the event.

"This is another fine example of agencies working with local communities to find innovative solutions to improve their areas and prevent flooding events damaging their homes in the future."

(LM/MH)