A FLOOD defence system to protect residents from the River Wear in Chester-le-Street was launched yesterday.

Riverside Residents' Association worked with the Environment Agency at Chester-le-Street District Council on the £100,000 scheme.

It is at The Parks residential estate, in the south-east of the town.

The project was launched after flooding in 2000 showed houses were at risk.

A 230-metre flood bank and 50 metres of flood wall, which used 5,000 tonnes of clay, has been created to protect eight properties.

It has been landscaped, and children from Selby Cottage Childcare Centre sowed seeds and planted bulbs to brighten the area.

Yesterday, four-year-old Bailey Tiffin won a board game about animals in a painting competition at the official opening of the flood bank.

Kathleen Shields, senior childcare officer at Selby Cottage, said: "The children have all be very excited about coming to see the exhibition.

"Bailey is delighted with the prize, and her parents will be very proud of her."

Julie Lewcock, operations manager of the Riverside site for Chester-le-Street council, said the project had involved all aspects of the community.

"We looked at ways of enhancing the area, as well as securing the flood defences," she said.

"We came up with a plan of what we would like to see and worked with local residents.

"We wanted to involve the children, because they are the future. If we attract their attention now, we hope they will respect it and not come along and vandalise it in years to come."