City flood work ahead of schedule

Work on Carlisle's new £24m flood defences is due to finish ahead of schedule.

The city was badly affected by floods in 2005 and improvement works was set to finish early next year.

But Keith Roddy, of the Environment Agency, said that if "all went well" the city could be "watertight" by the end of summer 2009.

A stronger foot bridge is now in place over the River Caldew in Denton Holme and work is progressing in Bitts Park.

The work will also include replacing the wall alongside Castle Way with an embankment.

Dacre Road will be also be raised near the entrance to Bitts Park car park to remove the need for a floodgate.