A THREE-PHASE scheme of repairs to flood defences in Corbridge is about to get under way.

The Environment Agency will begin work on Monday to reinforce flood defences on the south side of the Tyne in the village which were battered during Storm Desmond in December.

A six-metre length of sheet piling will be installed near an existing flood wall at The Stanners before a second 60-metre stretch of piling is installed further downstream to shore up the flood bank. Finally, upstream of the bridge, a clay bund will be built to help reduce the chance of future erosion during high river levels. The work is expected to take until late October or early November to complete.