People living in a north Wales town which has been flooded four times in four years have been dealt a major blow.

Less than two weeks after Denbighshire council approved a �1m flood defence scheme locals have been told they will have to wait until next Easter for it to be installed.

I know this news will be met with disappointment and some anger in the town

Alun Pugh Clwyd West AM

The local authority needs to put up part of the drainage system in Ruthin on local landowners property.

The negotiations have only just been completed which means work will not begin until November.

Severe flooding has severely affected residential and commercial properties around the Mwrog Street and Borthyn areas of the town.

The problem will now be tackled by diverting water away from houses in Ruthin which were last flooded in October 2001.

Clwyd West AM Alun Pugh said the wait is disappointing for residents.

Problems arise when the culvert floods

"I know this news will be met with disappointment and some anger in the town.

"Having secured the money to pay for this project I was looking forward to celebrating Christmas with residents free of the fear of flooding.

"It now looks like the bulldozers wont be cutting soil until November and my constituents will have to endure one last winter of worry until the threat of flooding is lifted for good."

Since 1998 there have been a number of separate flooding incidents resulting from problems with a culvert which runs from Mwrog Street to the River Clwyd.

Under the new project a brook which runs under the street and along farmland to Denbigh Road will be re-directed to join the River Clwyd.

The water will then be carried away from the town.

Councillors carried out a consultation last year over the plans and more than 90% of the public were in favour of the initiative.