FUNDING to the tune of £1m is set to be splashed out on a flood protection scheme in Haltwhistle.

Residents in the South Tyne capital have suffered at the hands of flash flooding in recent years.

Now a scheme has been devised to improve the flow of water through the town’s Hemmel Burn.

The watercourse, which is piped for some of its length, is in a poor condition and struggles to cope with water volume during periods of extremely heavy rainfall.

On Monday, Northumberland County Council hosted a public consultation at Haltwhistle Library, on Westgate, where the proposals were unveiled.

They included reinforcing the burn’s trenches, and relining the watercourse’s decayed pipes.

The proposed works have been designed by engineering consultants Royal Haskoning.

The project is set to be carried out by construction specialists Balfour Beatty, with funding from both the county council, and Defra.

Principal engineer Ross Whitelaw, of Royal Haskoning, said: “The burn is in need of a major scheme, which will benefit the town for years to come.”

Mr Whitelaw said short sections of the Hemmel Burn would be repaired at a time, minimising disruption in the town.

Work is set to get under way in September, and could be completed by Christmas.