A scheme to better protect thousands of homes and businesses from flooding has been completed.

More than 2,000 homes and businesses in Great Yarmouth sit behind the first phase of an Environment Agency (EA) major flood defence project.

The EA has recently finished the £28 million phase of work to replace over 500 metres of tidal defences, which reduces the risk of flooding to the Southtown and Cobholm areas of Great Yarmouth.

The next stage of the project sees innovative technology, known as a Limpet Dam, being used to improve the condition of the defences. This is a temporary structure that allows engineers to inspect and repair the river wall in a dry environment that would otherwise be underwater. A trial has started at Berth 20, off South Quay, opposite Friar's Lane, known as Bryant's Wharf, and will run for the next couple of months

Area flood risk manager at the Environment Agency Graham Verrier said: 'The quay walls in the next phase are in a better condition than those replaced in the first phase. We are using learning from that phase and intend to rejuvenate the walls with a programme of major repair and protection to reduce future corrosion.'

'This approach should provide a further 50 years of life to be gained from the defences for an estimated 30pc of the cost of replacing them – reducing the flood risk to over 2,000 homes.'

The Environment Agency intends to refurbish the tidal defences in 5-year phases over the coming decades. The overall scheme includes 12km of flood defences in Great Yarmouth that reduce the risk of tidal flooding from the River Yare to over 6,000 properties, including 5,000 homes.

Future phases of work will need external funding contributions.

Do you have a story about flooding? Email george.ryan@archant.co.uk