More than £250,000 has been awarded to Somerset County Council to help prevent flooding.

Flood-hit homeowners will be able to share the cash boost to improve flood defences and extra flood protection work can be carried out on 47 homes in the area as a result of the funding.

Somerset County Council, in partnership with the five district councils in Somerset, has won the £267,900 grant from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The money will go towards measures such as flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves.

William Wallace, county council cabinet member, community safety: "I am delighted that Somerset has won this funding.

"It recognises the degree of flooding that the county has experienced in recent years.

"Fear of flooding is a real prospect for some residents and this grant should go a long way to prevent the devastating consequences of future floods.

"Securing this money is good example of our partnership working to overcome stiff competition for much needed national flood funding."