FOUR flood defence schemes were approvedby council planners yesterday.

The projects will see embankments built to hold back flood waters from Turker Beck, at Northallerton, and Ing Beck, Winton Beck and North Beck, at Brompton.

The plans were drawn up after businesses and homes were flooded in 2000 and 2002.

Yesterday, all four schemes were approved unanimously by North Yorkshire County Council.

The Turker Beck scheme will see a 3m-high embankment built near Bullamoor Road, 193 metres away from the nearest house.

In the event of a flood, it would hold back the water and release it at a controlled rate via a spillway.

Jack Dobson, of Turker Beck Action Group, said Northallerton's real flooding problems did not lie with Turker Beck, but with the town's 100-year-old sewer systemn.

But Coun Tony Hall said the project was the final piece of the jigsaw and urged councillors to approve the plan.

At Brompton, a 155m-long, 2.8m-high embankment will be built at Ing Beck and a 125m-long, 3.7m-high embankment at Winton Beck.

At North Beck, a 1,320m- long embankment will be built alongside the railway line. At its highest point, the bank will be 5.5m.