CHILDREN will be leaving their own distinctive mark on a new flood defence wall after winning a competition.

The 30 lucky winning pupils from St Bede's Catholic Academy, Stockton, will leave their hand prints as a lasting reminder as part of the Lustrum Beck scheme near to their school.

The hand prints will be built in to the first element of the project which involves the Environment Agency and Stockton Borough Council.

Samantha Boyes, project manager for the scheme, said: “We are thrilled to be able to work with St Bede's Catholic Academy, so the next generation can be a part of a scheme that will benefit them and learn about how to be prepared for flooding.”

The £3 million scheme will reduce the risk of flooding to more than 150 properties in the Browns Bridge and Oxbridge areas.

The overall scheme involves raising embankments, replacing a screen on a culvert, replacing a bridge and constructing a number of flood storage areas.

The scheme will provide a solution to what is a complex flood risk problem along Lustrum Beck. It has been developed by the Environment Agency in close collaboration with Stockton Borough Council.