SOMERSET Council is to receive £50 million from the Government to invest in flood resilience and prevention schemes.

The announcement from Defra follows a visit made by Floods Minister Emma Hardy to Somerset in February during the major incident declared after Storm Chandra.

The funding will be used to develop a two-year programme of works to reduce flood risk, improve preparednes,s and strengthen long-term resilience.

Leader of the council Bill Revans said: “This is a fantastic opportunity and we know our communities will want to input into the programme to ensure we are taking full advantage of the funding.

“We are at a very early stage and we look forward to engaging with our residents and businesses as we develop a clear plan for delivery.”