A major flooding scheme has been successfully delivered in Northumberland.

The £600,000 project involved upgrading and extending the previous 180m flood wall to create a new 380m wall.

The new defences, from Crawford Street to Quay Road, will protect over 1,000 properties into the future while also offering immediate improved protection from tidal flooding to 58 properties.

The work was funded by the Environment Agency and built by Port of Blyth as part of their wider redevelopment of the adjacent Bates and Wimbourne Quay terminals.

Leila Huntington, the Environment Agency's Flood Risk Manager for the North East, said: "We're delighted this flood wall is now complete and hope it provides peace of mind to local residents that they have increased protection from tidal flooding now and into the future.


"This is a great example of an effective and efficient partnership project and we have worked closely with the Port of Blyth to create something which means a greater standard of flood protection at a reduced cost.

"I'd like to thank local residents for their patience throughout this work. We're committed to increasing protection for our communities at risk of flooding and are continuously looking for opportunities to collaborate with our partners and provide the best possible solutions."

Alan Todd, Port Director at the Port of Blyth, added: "We're delighted that these works are now complete and offer immediate improvements to the flood defences for the town, its residents and businesses.

"We are now able to focus on further phases of the redevelopment which will see the Bates and Wimbourne Quay terminals become one terminal, offering increased opportunities for growth and significant inward investment."

(CM)