MORE than £300,000 has been secured to protect people from flooding from the River Brue.

The Environment Agency confirmed this week that it has won funding for 93 schemes nationwide, all of which will begin in the next financial year, One is a £320,000 project to improve drainage on the River Brue at West Huntspill.

Paul Gainey, from the Environment Agency, said: “The River Brue is quite an important project.

“It's about making sure the water levels remain constant throughout the year by making ditches bigger.”

Nationwide, the schemes range from £250,000 projects to one costing more than £80million.

More than £25million has been delivered for projects in the South-West.

Richard Cresswell, the Environment Agency's South-West director, said: “The main objective remains to try to find solutions to the flooding problems that affect so many communities across the South West, and we will continue to work with local people to come up with those solutions.

'We are really pleased that this funding has been made available both for larger projects and to assist smaller communities with flood protection schemes.

“This money will go a long way in making communities more resilient, and protecting them from the effects of flooding which we know can be devastating.'

People whose properties are not being protected by a specific flood defence scheme can apply for money towards things such as flood doors, flood gates and air brick covers, through the Wessex Property Level Protection Programme.