More than £1.3m is to be spent on flood prevention measures in Herefordshire over the next five years.

The Environment Agency funding will see the introduction of natural flood management systems on seven smaller river areas that feed into the Wye. Within those catchment areas are 98 properties “at very significant risk” of flooding. Herefordshire Council said it saw the plans as “integral” to managing and reducing the flood risk in the county.

The seven catchment areas they will be used on are the Bodenham brooks, Brimfield brook, the Cheaton, Cogwell and Ridgemoor brooks, Dulas brook, the Red, Norton and Twyford brooks, Pentaloe brook and Tedstone brook.

It is hoped the measures will also improve wildlife habitats and reduce nutrient run-off and soil loss into watercourses which have affected the Wye. The money will also pay for a dedicated natural flood management project officer, and it is expected that it will bring in a similar amount of external funds to help maintain the measures.

The BBC report can be found here.