Halstead has been prioritised to take part in a new scheme to help educate people about flooding.

Essex County Council’s flood assets officer has contacted Halstead Town Council about taking part in a new project called “Where does the water go”.

This aims to get all the watercourses in the town categorised by small teams of three or four people led by a councillor.

Kevin Bentley, deputy leader of Essex County Council, said: “This is a really exciting scheme for us which empowers communities to explore and understand their local drainage systems.

“The information collected will be an important tool for flood management authorities like Essex County Council that will help improve our understanding and help alleviate future flood risks.”

The survey will mainly only look at waterways on public land, but will include private land if permission is granted from land owners.

A day of training is provided for volunteers by Essex County Council and ongoing support is given.

The project has only just finished its trial period, but Halstead has been chosen as one of eight priority areas because there has previously been flooding in the town and Essex County Council believes the project will therefore help the community.

Large parts of Halstead, as well as the surrounding villages of Great Yeldham, Toppesfield, Steeple Bumpstead and Gestingthorpe, were flooded back in February last year.

It is hoped that by building up an accurate map of the watercourses in the town, flooding can helped to be prevented in the future.