ROADWORKS will be in place in a Northumberland village next month as a £1.1m flood scheme begins.

Northumbrian Water is starting the work in Seaton Sluice on October 3 to increase the capacity of the sewerage network. The scheme will take around five months to complete.

More information about the scheme will be available at a public event at Seaton Sluice Middle School on September 27, starting at 6pm.

In times of very heavy rainfall the sewerage network has struggled to cope, which has resulted in flooding to 11 properties at Astley Gardens, Astley Villas, St. Ronan’s Drive and Seafield Mews.

David Groark, project manager for the scheme, said: “Reducing the risk of property flooding is one of Northumbrian Water’s priorities and over the next five years we intend to invest more than £120m to reduce this risk. The work will involve installing 100 metres of new sewer pipe adjacent to the A193 Links Road and renewing a further 50 metres of sewer pipe at Astley Gardens.”

Roadworks will be in place during the scheme on Links Road, Astley Gardens and St Ronan’s Drive.