Flood defence put to test near Guildford River Wey

The River Wey burst its banks in Guildford in December 2013

A temporary flood defence is being put to the test in a Surrey town which has seen severe flooding.

The Environment Agency said it was practising using the equipment in Guildford in an exercise based on floods in the town in winter 2013-14.

The River Wey, which has since been cleared of sand and trees, reached its highest levels in nearly 15 years.

More than 160 properties in Guildford and Cranleigh flooded after nearly 2.3in (60mm) of rain fell in one day.

On Thursday, the Environment Agency put up the temporary flood defence in Mary Road.

The agency said Guildford was just one of the towns identified as a place that would benefit from a temporary defence - officers are also testing a temporary flood barrier in an exercise in Canterbury, Kent.

Defences are stored near risk areas and used when they are technically and economically feasible and if they do not increase flooding for others, the agency said.

The are put up when there is enough warning, when it is safe to put them up, and if officers are confident they will not be overtopped.

Flood risk manager Dave Bedlington said the agency would continue to investigate and deliver permanent solutions.

He said long-term options were still being considered for the River Wey catchment, which covers Godalming, Guildford, Old Woking, Byfleet and Weybridge.

The temporary flood defence was being put up in Guildford