A Devon town has officially opened its new flood defence scheme.

North Tawton, near Okehampton, has suffered from flooding 10 times in as many years.

Now work has been completed on the town's defences, which include flood banks by the River Taw, a storage lagoon and the deepening of a culvert.

The �1m scheme was financed by West Devon Borough Council, with grant help from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Flooding averted

The scheme has already saved residents from thousands of pounds of water damage.

The project came into operation just before Christmas 2002, although it was not completely finished.

Over several days, heavy rain swept across the area, but flooding was prevented.

A retention lagoon, part of the scheme, filled with floodwater and controlled the flow that in previous years had caused the problems.

More schemes

Peter Hill of West Devon Borough Council said: "The council's unanimous decision about building this scheme reflected the seriousness which we placed on resolving the flooding problems in the town.

"We trust that this scheme brings to an end a miserable period for the residents and businesses of North Tawton."

North Tawton is the latest in a series of communities to get flood defences in Devon.

The towns of Ottery St Mary and Harbertonford have also had schemes recently completed.