A SCHEME to remove up to 6,000 tonnes of gravel from the River South Tyne at Haydon Bridge has finally got under way.

Diggers and other machinery from earthworks specialist Thompsons of Prudhoe arrived at the riverside last week.

The work, which has been orchestrated by Haydon Parish Council, is expected to take eight weeks.

The ambitious project is the village’s response to the devastation caused to homes and businesses during Storm Desmond in December 2015.

It has been in the pipeline for over a year, but could not begin until the work was approved by both the Environment Agency (EA), and Northumberland County Council.

The EA issued a permit despite maintaining its stance that the work was not essential and that the gravel did not increase the flood risk to properties in Haydon Bridge.

Coun. David Robson said he has worked closely on the scheme alongside fellow councillors Eileen Charlton and Vera Fletcher.

He added: “This has been quite a process and we are pleased to get to this stage, with Thompsons on site and people can see the gravel being removed. The strength of feeling in the village is that this work desperately needs to be done, and will reduce the risk of flooding.”

Coun. Robson said that the parish council would also seek permission to remove gravel from the river two miles upstream at Lipwood, where homes were also flooded during Storm Desmond.

A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said the parish council’s permit included limitations on how much gravel could to be removed, as well as conditions relating to wildlife and the environment. She said the EA was satisfied other communities further downstream would not be at increased risk of flooding as a result of the work.