FLOOD defences in Kempsey are being beefed up by the Environment Agency, boosting protection for homeowners.

The £1.7 million defences in the village near Worcester opened in July 2012 but failed just four months later when homes were flooded but work has continued to improve and upgrade the scheme.

The defences consist of both a bund, protecting the village from flooding from the River Severn, and pumps to clear the brook.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: "We’ve been carrying out additional work at the Kempsey Flood Alleviation scheme, this is to improve the resilience and create new access points which will help the yearly maintenance of the scheme and brook, aiding in reducing flood risk to the community.

"The works will cost £140,000 and started in March this year and will be completed by the end of April."

David Harrison, an independent Malvern Hills district councillor for Kempsey, welcomed the extra investment and has visited the site to examine the progress for himself.

He said: “The more resilient the better for the people of Kempsey and for the travelling public along the A38 following the devastating flooding in 2007 and 2012.

"This will make it much easier to service the components on the defences as access will be available for mechanical equipment.

"The improvement of the un-adopted footpath from Squires Walk to behind the pumping station will be an added benefit to walkers particularly in wet and inclement weather."

The Worcester News reported at the time how a sensor failed when it became submerged which meant the pumps designed to clear the deluge did not work properly and about 20 homes flooded in the village from the Hatfield Brook on Sunday, November 25, 2012.

Residents from the village's Church Street, including a veteran of the D-Day landings in 1944, were evacuated by dinghy in the dead of night.

Since the flooding an emergency generator was set up so that if the electricity supply to the pumps fails they can still operate.

Manual back-up is also now available in the event of the pumps failing with EA staff dispatched to the village from Tewkesbury when the brook reaches a certain level, before the first of two pumps kick in.