A COMMUNITY group believe they could be the first in the country to organise and fund their own natural flood defences.

The Brompton Flood Prevention Group has worked tirelessly for more than three years to try and alleviate the flooding problems faced by certain areas of the village, near Northallerton.

Despite repeatedly being denied cash from the Environment Agency and funding organisations because the group does not own the land it needs to work on, BFPG has finally got permission to build three leaky dams in a farmer’s beck.

Chairman of the group Sue Butler said it had been a hard slog to get to where they are – but is proud to be the first community group to have fundraised for their own flood defences in North Yorkshire, and possibly even in England.

She said: “There is a village called Belford in Northumberland which has installed some natural flood defences like we plan to - but that was funded by the Environment Agency and its parish council.

“We have done this all ourselves.”

The BFPG has nine members who have seen the campaign through from the start, and have been fundraising regularly to achieve the £5,000 for the natural flood defences.

Mrs Butler said: “The flood defences are three leaky dams. They are made from logs which have been provided by our contractor James Coxon; he will cut them to side and layer them with stones to allow small gaps for water to get through.

“They slow the speed of the water without stopping it and it will help stop flooding in our village.”

Mrs Butler said the group had also gained permission to build a large storage pond on land near Ing Beck, but more funding is needed before that can go ahead.

She said: “We have done all the research into what flood defences we need and have even spoken at conferences about being a community group funding our own flood systems.

“We hope this project will convince other farmers that it is worthwhile so we can let surveyors on their land and improve defences further.”

A documentary maker will also be present to film the work as part of a programme about people making their own natural flood defences around the country.

It is hoped the flood defences will be completed by Tuesday, July 19 and MP Rishi Sunak, who has supported the campaign, will open the first natural defences on Thursday, July 28.