BEWDLEY residents on the Kidderminster side of the River Severn are to benefit from a flood defence scheme for the first time.

The news Wribbenhall side of the river will be given a share of a £600,000 grant from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was met with acclaim from supporters who said the left bank has until now been overlooked in favour of the hard-hit Severnside North and South.

Gill Holland, operations director for the Bewdley Residents Flood Committee, said the pilot scheme to test the temporary flood barriers was a welcome move.

She said: "We are delighted with the decision and hope Wribbenhall will eventually have a permanent scheme to deal with the flooding the area suffers.

"Flooding in on the left bank causes a great deal of traffic problems and has the potential to damage many historical, listed buildings."

Labour councillor for Wribbenhall, Nigel Knowles said the move was a "step in the right direction" by the government.

Mr Knowles, who is also chair of the Severn Advisory Group on Bewdley Town Council, said: "All of Bewdley needs to be taken into account when preparing flood defences, not just the Severnside area.

"Having lived in the Wribbenhall area, the water levels reached here can be quite alarming so I am pleased the government has seen sense and is prepared to put some work into the Kidderminster side of the Severn."

The defence methods being considered by the Environment Agency - which has been handed the cash by Defra to test defences on several areas in the Severn Valley - include the laying of a massive tubular barrier filled with water and the use of an easy to erect pallet barrier.

Peter May, Environment Agency area flood defence manager said although the pilot project was still in its early days, it was an exciting development in flood defences for the town.

He said: "We will be reviewing possible trial locations along the Severn Valley. These include the left bank at Bewdley, Bridgnorth and Worcester, along with trials already set up at Ironbridge and Shrewsbury.

"The beauty is that these defences can be used at any location, wherever they are needed."

Gill Holland said the Bewdley Residents Flood Committee was looking forward to seeing the chosen barrier in action.

She said: "We are very confident these defences will be successful. It is the first time they will be used in this country but we have seen the success both of these defence barriers have had abroad.

"This is great news for Wribbenhall."