Fresh hopes have been handed to Norwich communities hit badly by flooding earlier this year.

A series of reports due to be released next month could prompt a cash injection to help protect the areas of Norwich and Broadland damaged by floodwaters.

And Norwich North MP Chloe Smith is said to be planning to use the evidence gleaned from the reports to lobby central government on the need to better protect people's homes.

About 70 properties were damaged in May, June, July and August this year, causing an estimated £2m worth of damage in 10 areas across the city. Norfolk County Council has a duty to produce flood investigation reports to establish the causes of and possible solutions to the flooding.

It is understood the reports for Hellesdon, Sprowston, Old Catton and Thorpe St Andrew will be like a manual, with the names of roads affected, the cause of the flooding, who is responsible and the resolution.

At the first of three meetings organised by Norfolk County Council last night, Mark Henderson, the authority's flood and water partnership coordinator, said: 'We are hoping to use the report to pitch for extra funding for capital works.

'The report will be used as evidence to try and get money for certain areas, whether that's through Norfolk County Council or other agencies as well. It's a really positive process – people can find out why it's happened and who's responsible.'

The reports will also look at the roles and responsibilities of organisations such as Anglian Water and the Environment Agency.

An application for a £500,000 grant will soon be lodged for the Catton Grove, Sewell, Town Close and Nelson areas of the city.

The next meetings for people to find out more will be held on November 27 at Sprowston High School, on Cannerby Lane, Sprowston, and December 3 at Pilling Park Community Centre, Pilling Park Road, Thorpe Hamlet. Both from 6.30pm until 9pm.

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