TEMPORARY flood barriers were deployed along Newcastle’s Quayside today as part of a live training exercise.

It was the first time the temporary barriers, which form part of the Government’s national flood prevention plans, have been deployed and tested in the region.

Organised in partnership with Newcastle City Council, the exercise boosted flood resilience across the region by training staff how to put the barriers up as well as testing new operational deployment plans.

Following last winters’ devastating flooding the Environment Agency has invested in new equipment including 40 km of temporary flood barriers. The barriers are held at strategic sites across the UK and can be transported anywhere in the country within twelve hours.

In December 2013, tidal levels of 4.02 metres were recorded on the Tyne which led to flooding of the Quayside and 18 businesses along it.

Flood support staff used the exercise as an opportunity to test new technology that relays live data, including flood levels and photographs, back to incident control teams during a flood event.

The information collected by staff in the field will automatically upload to an instant mapping portal, helping the Environment Agency make better and quicker decisions on how to direct resources.

The live test came one year after Storm Desmond flooded more than 300 properties in the region and builds on the £3.2million recovery programme carried out to repair and restore flood defences, and work to help communities be more resilient to flooding.

The Quayside is one of five locations at risk from flooding initially identified as suitable for the deployment of temporary barriers in the North-East. Others are Blyth, St Omers Haugh at Dunston, Tyne Green at Hexham and Skinningrove in east Cleveland.

The Environment Agency is working with partners to identify further locations at risk of flooding where the barriers could be deployed.