GLOUCESTERSHIRE County Council has announced £758,000 worth of work to protect hundreds of homes from flooding.

The council has approved 13 proposals for new schemes - including Moreton and Newent - that will drastically reduce the possibility of flooding in the county.

The cash will significantly reduce the risk of flooding for 639 homes in the county which have previously flooded on one or more occasions since 2007.

Preparation work for the projects is starting immediately and the county council hopes most of the work will be finished in 2014/15.

The work is being carried out in partnership with local councils and relevant agencies and will involve a variety of measures including flood defences, watercourse improvements and improving resilience for individual houses.

Councillor Vernon Smith, Lead Cabinet Member for Highways and Flood, said: “I know how devastating flooding can be and that’s why this council has taken the decision to invest this money into schemes that will genuinely change the lives of the people whose homes have been affected by flooding over the last seven years.

“It’s great that these improvements are being carried out so quickly. If we do have another wet winter I know this work will make a huge difference.”

As well as these specific areas, a portion of the money will be spent on providing individual property level flood protection for a number of homes near to the River Severn in Tewkesbury Borough.