A �3m defence scheme is planned to protect Derbyshire homes from sewer flooding and improve the standard of water.

It follows an increase in customer bills by Severn Trent.

The work will protect an extra 60 homes in the county from sewer flooding and provide cleaner tap water for the whole county.

In January, Severn Trent Water was given permission by the industry watchdog Ofwat to lift its restriction on price fixing so it could improve its water standards.

Price rise

The work to prevent flooding, which will be carried out in areas including West Hallam, Ilkeston, Ashbourne and Breaston, will now increase the yearly water bill by an extra �3.

A Severn Trent spokesman said: "Sometimes the sewer system cannot cope with intense downpours and the lowest point of the system, a manhole cover or grate, will overflow.

"Real problems arise when this gets into gardens and homes.

"This work will involve increasingly the capacity of the system with tanks, wider pipes or multiple pipes."

Customers will pay more on their bills from April this year.