A Norfolk community which is still recovering after more than a hundred homes were flooded last year is to get £150,000 in funding to help prevent disasters in the future.

A natural flood management scheme is to be introduced in north Attleborough to help mitigate risks to homes in the town.

The announcement by DEFRA has been welcomed by people living in the town, who are facing a nine-month wait before they can return home following the damage caused in October last year.

Eastern Daily Press: The culvert next to Mr and Mrs Shortt's home in Attleborough shortly before the October floodsThe culvert next to Mr and Mrs Shortt's home in Attleborough shortly before the October floods (Image: Lynn Shortt)

Lynn and Hans Shortt, who have been campaigning for help for years after being flooded four times, said they remain anxious until the work has been proven to be effective.

"Finally something is happening - it has been a long time to get this far," said Mrs Shortt, 62.

"We are really pleased but we are not jumping for joy just yet as we still have concerns. We will have to see how it progresses."

Eastern Daily Press: Lynn Shortt and her husband Hans, with their dog Rainbow, surveying the damage in their kitchen after the floodLynn Shortt and her husband Hans, with their dog Rainbow, surveying the damage in their kitchen after the flood (Image: Lynn Shortt)

READ MORE: Norfolk homeowners feel helpless due to flooding risk

The scheme will focus on the upper headwaters of the Besthorpe Stream, which burst its banks following Storm Babet's heavy rain, leading to 129 homes being flooded.

The money will be spent over the next three years and will be delivered with local landowners.

Eric Vardy, Norfolk County Council's cabinet member for environment said: "I welcome these steps to support flood protection.

"Now the government needs to go further and provide real, long-term certainty to communities at risk of flooding and fund the big schemes we need to keep our towns and villages, from Attleborough to Burnham Market and Potter Heigham, safe.”

Eastern Daily Press: Eric Vardy, cabinet member for environment at Norfolk County CouncilEric Vardy, cabinet member for environment at Norfolk County Council (Image: NCC)

The project is one of two in Norfolk, with the River Waveney catchment in Diss is also to receive funding for flooding measures.

Norfolk county councillors are continuing to lobby for more help to protect communities against flooding and coastal erosion.

Officers at County Hall have faced increasing pressures this year due to the volume of flood events, and its teams have been working to ensure drains are cleared and that proper maintenance of waterways is enforced.