A £1.15m project aimed at helping to reduce flooding in Corbridge is now complete.

Funded by flood recovery cash allocated to the council following Storm Desmond, the Northumberland County Council project was identified as a priority after the extent of the damage to the highway drainage system in the Stanners, Station Road and Tinklers Bank area became clear.

Originally a four-month scheme, work got under way in January but council officials said the challenging nature of project led to some delays.

“This has been a very complex project working around utilities apparatus and with a number of engineering constraints, which together with some additional works has led to a slight extension to the timescales,” said Coun. Glen Sanderson, cabinet member for environment and local services with the county council.

“Overall for such an extensive scheme the work has been carried out from start to completion in a very short time frame.”

A new highway drainage system has been built along Station Road and a new outfall runs through Tynedale Rugby Club, replacing the existing culvert, which was badly damaged during the December 2015 floods.

Coun. Sanderson added: “We understand how distressing this flooding was for the people of Corbridge and other towns and villages which were affected.

“This council has been working tirelessly since the severe weather in winter 2015 to clean-up and repair roads and infrastructure both in Corbridge and the wider area and this major piece of work will be vital in protecting the town in the future.

“We appreciate the support from local residents during these works and did all we could to keep disruption to a minimum.”

County councillor for Corbridge, Nick Oliver, whose own family home was flooded during the storms, said: “I know first hand the effects the floods had on Corbridge and other parts of the county.

“It was important the council and other agencies did everything they could to ensure the village was better protected in the future.”

Although the drainage scheme is now complete, road resurfacing work is continuing and is expected to be finished by the end of this week.

Throughout the project the county council has worked closely with the parish council, Corbridge Flood Action Group and Tynedale Rugby Club, with Tinklers Bank and Station Road restricted to residents’ access only.