Work has been completed on defences for one of Devon's worst flood-blighted communities.

The village of Harbertonford has suffered six serious floods in the last four years.

Now a dam has been built and a river-widening scheme completed on the River Harbourne before the worst of the winter flooding is due this winter.

The scheme, which cost �2m, was engineered by the Environment Agency.

Harbertonford was flooded six times in four years

Judy Goldup's home was flooded twice, causing damage totalling about �50,000.

She said: "It's an enormous relief for me and the whole village.

"It was just horrendous to have the water pouring into your house and being unable to do anything about it. The aftermath went on for months and months and months."

Half a mile upstream from the village, a dam has been built to hold back any potential flood water. In the village, the river has been widened to reduce the risk of overflowing.

Land provided

Graham Buxton-Smith, from the Environment Agency, said: "The flows have been reduced and it hasn't flooded in Bow Road, which it would have done by now.

"People are just more reassured that it's working."

The dam is being named Palmer's Dam, after Ken Palmer, a local farmer who provided the land for it. He died earlier this year.

His widow, Virginia, will unveil a plaque at the official naming ceremony on Friday.

Youngsters from Harbertonford Primary School planted bluebell, snowdrop and daffodil bulbs on the village green during a ceremony which marked the completion of the scheme.