A WINCHCOMBE-based drainage expert is going to examine ways of helping the town avoid future flooding on the scale of last summer's floods, which devastated parts of the town.

Richard Wakeford, a local resident, has volunteered to develop a proposal to create a wet land nature reserve, with ponds and lakes, in which flood waters from Cleeve Hill could be held back by sluice gates.

Excess water could then be released at a controlled rate that the town's water courses - the Beesmoor and Isbourne could accommodate without overflowing.

Mr Wakeford's offer of help, was made at the meeting of the Winchcombe Flood Action Group last week.

His ideas, which also included planting hill areas around the town with trees to slow water flowing into the drainage system, were welcomed by action group secretary Neil Mattinson.

"He's come up with some extremely interesting ideas. I saw no solution to the problem we've got but this has suggested there is an idea. Everybody on the action group was excited about it," said Mr Mattinson.

The action group received 40 responses to its questionnaire about flooding in the town. These are to be taken into account when Tewkesbury Borough Council draws up its programme of work to improve the town's drainage infrastructure.

The group wants a number of townspeople to volunteer as drainage wardens to help monitor the work.

"Members of the action group emphasise that this problem is one for the community, best sorted by the community. Unless everyone shoulders their responsibilities in the matter, when the next storm hits Winchcombe we will be flooded again," warned Mr Mattinson.