AN £800,000 flood defence scheme for North Tawton began this week, promising to end decades of flooding misery in the town.

West Devon Borough Council has led the crusade to help the townspeople of North Tawton and has contributed more than £500,000 to see the project come to fruition.

Just two years after its inception, mayor of West Devon Richard Phillips cut the first turf yesterday (Wednesday) to herald the start of the scheme, which will be completed in the New Year.

Cllr Philips said it was most unusual for a district council to take on such a project and deliver it so quickly — the average time in the planning was five years.

'We have no statutory duty to put together such a scheme, but the misery that the people of North Tawton have suffered because of the constant flooding of their homes spurred the council into action,' he said.

The authority led the way by bringing in its own consultant contractors, seeking funding, buying appropriate land and appointing contractors, therefore limiting the amount of time it usually takes. A grant of £300,000 towards the work came from DEFRA.

North Tawton's flooding problems are unique and not solely related to the flooding of the River Taw, which runs through the town.

A complex system of streams, changes in weather patterns, high annual rainfall, surface water run-off from highways and an old sewerage system make the situation even worse during heavy rainfall.

The engineers' plans include building a dam wall at North Tawton Rugby Club, which will protect houses in the lower part of town from the river when it swells, and a retention tank at the top of the town which will slow up water travelling down through North Tawton.

Christine and Graham King, of North Street, who were flooded three times in ten months, said they would at last be able to sleep easy when rain was forecast.

'I cannot describe how awful it has been,' said Christine. 'Every time it rains, my heart goes up into my throat.

'We had water in the house up to our knees and we were really coming to the end of our tether. We basically lived in two rooms, but many people had to move out of their properties because the flood damage was so bad.'

Thanks were expressed to borough councillor for North Tawton Nick Morgan, who had kept the pressure on to get something done over the years.

He said: 'I first brought this up at the borough council nine years ago, but flooding problems were going on for some time before that.

'Lots of new housing and changes in the weather have all contributed in making the problems worse since then.'

He said he had continued to bring up the issue 'one way or another' every year and, despite limited funds, the council had found the £500,000 needed by 'scraping the bottom of the barrel'.

North Tawton Town Council chairman Gill Hoggins said the town was indebted to West Devon for driving the scheme forward and coming up with the cash.

'It has all happened very quickly, thankfully, and for the people who have been flooded it will be a relief all ways round,' she said.

West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett, who was involved in the many meetings held between the council, agencies and local residents, said it was a great day for North Tawton and the culmination of a lot of campaigning by the people of the town.

'Once this scheme has been completed the poor victims of flooding over the years will no longer have to live in fear,' he said.

The flood defence scheme is being carried out by Dean and Dyball Construction.