A £2m scheme to improve flood defences in a North-East town will be officially opened next week.

Contractors Edmund Nuttall have completed the work at Yarm, Teesside, on behalf of the Environment Agency in time for the autumn flood season.

The opening will take place on Friday, November 29, with a number of civic dignitaries, residents of Yarm and Jo Turnbull, chairwoman of the Northumbria Regional Flood Defence Committee.

The original flood defence scheme for Yarm was completed in 1993 and protected the town from flooding several times.

However, during the 1995 floods, the original height of the floodwalls were not deemed suitable. The new scheme has raised the walls by approximately half a metre to provide an improved defence standard.

Mrs Turnbull said: "This scheme is a major step forward in providing better flood protection for residents and businesses in Yarm.

"Although we can never prevent flooding, the work will reduce the frequency of flooding."

The agency has also carried out a number of environmental enhancement projects as part of the flood defence scheme. Nearly 300m of river margins have been improved by planting, and an otter holt and bird and bat boxes constructed.

Trees and shrubs removed during the scheme will be replaced.