FLOOD defences in Warrington were put to the test when a tidal surge struck Warrington on Thursday.

Severe weather conditions caused flooding in a number of locations along the River Mersey but experts at the Environment Agency have claimed that the flood defences at Victoria Park were effective.

The Environment Agency along with Warrington Borough Council has recently completed the first stage of a flood alleviation scheme along the banks of the River Mersey at Knutsford Road and Victoria Park in Latchford.

Despite flooding being visible in Victoria Park, Gary Vyse, from the Environment Agency, said that they knew that this would happen and heralded the flood defences as a success.

Mr Vyse said: “The flood defences protected homes and businesses in the area. Victoria Park is a natural flood plain designed to hold water in the event of a flood and protect the local community. This area acts as basin, absorbing the water.”

The flood alleviation scheme will cost £23m, with £17m of the overall amount funded by the Government.

The remaining £6m will come from a combination of Warrington Borough Council and other businesses who will benefit from the works.

The scheme, which involves constructing a series of walls and embankments along the River Mersey, aims to prevent the risk of flooding to more than 2,000 homes and businesses on Knutsford Road as well as properties in Westy, Latchford, Howley, Arpley Bridge and Lower Walton.

Planning permission has already been granted to start the next phase of the scheme in Howley, where flood defences will be installed from Riverside Retail Park to Howley Lane in January 2014.

There are further proposals in place to construct more flood defences to reduce the risk to the Scottish Power substation upstream of Howley in April 2014, however this is still subject to acquiring planning permission.

The final stage will take place towards the end of 2014 in Cinnamon Brow, Padgate, Latchford East, Twiggeries and Woolston.