4 December 2012 Last updated at 04:10 ET

Work starts on Warrington flood defence scheme

A £23m flood defence project to protect 2,000 homes at risk from the River Mersey in Cheshire is under way.

Construction work has started on defences for homes in the Latchford, Howley, Padgate, Woolston and Cinnamon Brow areas of Warrington.

In the 1990s, a tidal flood from the River Mersey affected many properties, which were also threatened during high tides in 2002 and 2006.

Residents hope the defences will enable them to get their homes insured.

Kat Newton, who lives close to the river on Cumberland Street, said: "Realistically getting insurance for your house for floods is near on impossible at the moment because of how close we are to the river, so once the defences go up we will be able to get that, so that's fantastic."

Biggest in region

The project is one of 60 due to start around the country this year after the government announced a £243m plan, funded by communities, councils, the private sector and government agencies, to protect a total of 25,000 homes in February.

Mark Garratt, the Environment Agency's flood risk manager, said: "These defences are the biggest under construction in the region.

"The weather we have experienced across the North West this summer highlights how important it is to be prepared for flooding, and this scheme will reduce the risk of flooding to a 1% chance in any given year."

The project is being funded by the Environment Agency and Warrington Borough Council.

Construction is currently underway along Knutsford Rd and Victoria Park, and works are due to be completed in 2015.