Flood gates protect 2,300 homes

New flood gates are set to be installed in Ipswich in the first stage of a £50m scheme to protect 2,300 homes.

The new lock gates are being installed at Ipswich docks on Sunday in the first stage of the Ipswich Flood Defence Management Strategy.

They will replace a set of smaller gates and have been installed in anticipation of rising sea levels.

A large area of central Ipswich lies on a flood plain and has been identified as being vulnerable to a surge tide.

The gates will help to protect 2,320 properties in the area.

They are being installed close to Ipswich's Waterfront development, which has seen construction of hundreds of apartments and flats over the past several years.

The flood defence scheme is being carried out by the Environment Agency and Ipswich Borough Council.

Andrew Usborne, Environment Agency project manager, said: "The installation of the new gates is the first step in our plan for upgrading defences for Ipswich.

"We are now working on the design of other parts of the scheme which will be put in place over the coming years."