A £500,000 project to help protect homes near Norwich from the risk of flooding after heavy rain is due to start tomorrow.

The Anglian Water scheme in Cringleford will see almost 200 metres of larger drainage pipes installed along Keswick Road and Tungate Crescent, as well as an additional large storage pipe designed to hold over 200,000 litres of water.

Once installed, the new pipes and extra capacity will significantly reduce the risk of flooding for homes in the area where problems have occurred in the past.

To allow the works to be completed, both Tungate Crescent and Keswick Road will be closed during the scheme.

Work will start on Tungate Crescent, close to the junction with Keswick Road, from tomorrow, with just one end of the road closed to traffic for around three weeks.

From the start of September, work will move into Keswick Road itself for around six weeks.

Antony Innes from Anglian Water said: 'Flooding of any kind is understandably devastating for those affected, which is why we're constantly working to maintain and improve our drains and sewers across the region.

'This project in Cringleford is designed to do exactly that.

'Increasing the size of pipes in this area will help reduce the chance of drains becoming overwhelmed at times of heavy rain and better protect nearby homes.'

He added: 'We know this work will cause disruption to residents and commuters and we're sorry for that, but hopefully people will understand that, once complete, this project will bring real benefits to homes in Cringleford.'

The work should be complete by mid-October and a diversion will be clearly signposted once Keswick Road is closed, taking traffic along Low Road, the B1113, A140 Ipswich Road, the A140 Daniels Road, the A11 Newmarket Road, Eaton Street (Bluebell Road) and Intwood Road before rejoining Keswick Road.