13 June 2012 Last updated at 12:43 ET

Northallerton £2m flood defence scheme plans submitted

A £2m plan to increase flood protection for nearly 300 homes and businesses in a North Yorkshire town have been submitted to the council.

Earlier this year Northallerton council approved a flood defence scheme for more than 200 properties.

The Environment Agency said it had "found a way to protect an additional 80 homes".

The scheme would include widening two becks and construction of an underground water storage area.

'Reduce risk'

The agency said it had already completed repair work to the culverts on both the Sun and Turker becks last month.

Andrew Gee, from the Environment Agency, said: "While we can never guarantee that Northallerton will not flood again in extreme circumstances, the work we are proposing will significantly reduce the risk for a large number of homes and businesses.

"Northallerton's Friarage Hospital will also benefit from our plans."

"Severe flooding occurred in 2000 and 2002 and many properties were damaged.

"Our original plans would have provided improved protection for 212 properties but we have found a way to protect an additional 80 homes at no significant extra cost to the taxpayer."

If the scheme is approved, work on the flood defences is expected to start in the autumn, the agency said.