THIS week marks six years since Storm Desmond hit Tynedale.

On December 5, 2015, severe weather conditions battered the entire Tyne Valley, and beyond.

The highest flow of water ever recorded in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was racing down the River Tyne at Bywell.

The most devastating flood event in living memory saw a flow of 1,250 cubic metres per second recorded, with an estimated peak flow of 1,730.

Communities were devastated by the impact of flooding, with a total of 214 homes and 94 businesses flooded across Northumberland.

In Corbridge, Station Road was under metres of water.

The clubhouses at Tynedale Cricket Club and Tynedale Rugby Club were destroyed by the water, with the cricket club hatching a cunning plan in future years to put the building on stilts to prevent the devastation repeating.

Work to improve the well-used Ovingham Bridge which connects the village to Prudhoe was severely disrupted as water levels in the River Tyne rose dramatically as a result of the storm.

In Hexham, businesses suffered substantial damage when flood water got into their premises.

Stock at Otterburn Mill was damaged due to flood water, with the North Tyne valley dealing with excess rain water too.

Over in the west of the district, the town of Haltwhistle and the village of Haydon Bridge were also badly hit by Storm Desmond.

Since the storm, the Environment Agency has invested £10million to improve flood defences, and said last year they will spend a further £10million to better protect local communities in the Tyne Valley.

Last week it was announced that The Environment Agency has secured £5.2m for Hexham's Flood Alleviation Scheme.

Approximately 90 properties are to be better protected from flooding at The Bridge End and Tyne Mills Industrial Estates, which were both flooded in 2015 during Storm Desmond.

Work started on a £1 million scheme to strengthen flood defences on the south bank of the Tyne at Corbridge and Devils Water last year, and in Ponteland, the Environment Agency said more than 250 homes and businesses are better protected from flooding now after a £2.7million flood scheme there was completed in September.