Work on flood defences under way

The flood defences will take four months to build

Work has begun on £1.1m flood defences which will protect dozens of properties in Shropshire.

The scheme at Coleham Head, in Shrewsbury, is expected to take four months to complete.

A developer building hundreds of new homes on the town's former football ground is contributing £500,000 to help build a wall and demountable barriers.

Temporary defences have previously been used at the site to hold back water from the River Severn during floods.

'Damage and distress'

The Environment Agency said some trees would be cleared to make way for the long-term development, which will be similar to a nearby flood wall. Barriers would be built in front of Shrewsbury's new council offices in Frankwell.

It said road closures and footpath diversions were inevitable later this year.

Project manager Anthony Crowther said: "This flood alleviation scheme is vital to minimise flood risk for many people living in the Coleham Head area and to help keep access routes open during future floods.

"We will do everything we can to keep disruption to a minimum but we are asking people for their patience and understanding over the next few weeks..."

Alongside funds from Mosaic Estates Ltd, the company redeveloping the old Gay Meadow football site, money is coming from Shropshire County Council and other local authorities through a levy scheme.