AN area of east Cleveland which has been plagued with flooding problems over the past few years is to be helped thanks to a £64,000 scheme.

According to Ralph Ferguson, director of technical services for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, a row of cottages at East Crescent, Loftus, have been flooded more times than anywhere else in the borough this year and the work is a matter of urgency.

It will include building walls to hold back floodwaters and the installation of flood boards in the doorways of homes as a last resort.

The council is also going to carry out a £10,000 survey on an existing culvert system as residents have expressed concern at its effectiveness.

The council has also announced contingency plans to combat adverse weather conditions in all parts of the borough over Christmas.

It has identified five operational centres including the old school at Skinningrove, Loftus Town Hall, Margrove Park near Guisborough, the council depot at Dormanstown and the Grangetown Opportunities Centre.

Equipment including two large pumps, five small pumps and a fleet of vehicles will be on standby.

Three potential rest centres at Rosecroft School, Loftus, Rye Hills School, Redcar and Gillbrook Technology College at South Bank have also been identified.