Sepa seeks to improve Borders flood warnings

Equipment to help warn of flooding could potentially be installed at Bonchester Bridge

Scotland's environment watchdog is stepping up its efforts to protect homes and businesses in the Borders from flooding.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) estimates the annual cost of flood damage to properties, land and roads in the Tweed catchment area to be about £10.5m.

Major flood protection defences have been built in Selkirk and Hawick, along with smaller schemes in several other towns and villages.

But Sepa believes about 4,600 homes and other properties remain at risk.

It has commissioned risk management consultants, Jeremy Benn Associates, to look at flood warning models for the Tweed catchment area.

The project will see equipment at the various gauging stations along Borders rivers tested, adjusted and corrected to improve flood forecasting and warnings.

It will also look at extending the current network of stations to include areas such as the Bowmont Valley and Bonchester Bridge.