A community blighted by flooding is celebrating news of extra flood alleviation schemes.
Heybridge residents have welcomed information from the Environment Agency on an £8million plan to protect their homes.
Residents were evacuated to Plume School during flooding last year, in August and in December.
Torrential rain over the August bank holiday left residents struggling to cope with flashfloods.
In December a high tidal surge left homes at risk from waters, the worst storm surge seen in the district since 1953.
With extra housing proposed for areas of flood plain in places such as Holloway Road, residents are more anxious than ever plans are put in place to protect their houses from excess water.
The Heybridge Community Flood Risk Alleviation scheme is planned by the Environment Agency and construction is scheduled to start in 2016-17.
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