Northumbrian Water has started work on a five-month improvement scheme in the Wideopen area in North Tyneside to reduce the risk of flooding to homes.

In times of extremely heavy rainfall the sewerage network has struggled to cope with the volume of water, which has resulted in flooding to five properties on Birchwood Avenue and Oakwood Avenue.

The £500K scheme involves the installation of 410 metres of new sewer pipe.

Kevin Fleming, project manager for the scheme, said:

“Reducing the risk of property flooding is one of Northumbrian Water’s priorities and this work is part of our £1.2 billion investment between 2010 and 2015 to improve our vast water and sewerage networks."