Flood damage costing council £3m

Communities across the county were affected by the severe flooding

Council chiefs will spend more than £3m on repairs to roads and bridges following severe flooding in Northumberland in September.

More than 1,000 homes in Morpeth were flooded when the River Wansbeck broke its banks during torrential rain.

High river levels caused extensive damage to roads, swept away footbridges, caused landslides and eroded bridge foundations.

Northumberland County Council has already begun the repair work.

An estimated £1.9m, towards the cost of the work, has been made available through deferring other projects.

Councillor Alan Thompson said: "Finding ways to make vital and urgent repairs has meant that some other maintenance schemes have had to be deferred.

"I would like to reassure residents that these maintenance schemes, which I know people will have been waiting for, will be included in future plans, as will any other flood repair work that is not as urgent as the major problems that we are dealing with at the moment."