West Oxfordshire flood funding approaches £1m

Over 1,500 West Oxfordshire homes were affected by floods in 2007

Funding for flood relief work in West Oxfordshire could top £1m if a new grant application is accepted.

The district council has applied to Defra for £330,000 in addition to around £700,000 received since the floods in July 2007.

More than 1,500 West Oxfordshire homes and 70 businesses were affected.

David Harvey, the council's cabinet member for environment, said the money would benefit large-scale flood defence work.

He added: "It may have happened four years ago, but I am sure that the devastation of the flooding of 2007 is still fresh in many people's minds."

The council said it was also planning to clear ditches and work closely "with those communities affected by the floods to plan for the future and provide better protection".

The new projects will focus on Alvescot, Crawley, Shilton, Clanfield, Minster Lovell, Curbridge and Colwell Brook, Witney.