DEVON County Council has announced a series of schemes to tackle flooding in the Ivybridge area.

Around £60,000 is being invested by Devon County Council in a number of 'quick-win' schemes to address flooding issues in a number of towns and villages, with £20,000 focused on Ivybridge and the surrounding area.

Several small schemes have been identified by the county council to help communities who took the brunt of last year's floods.

The measures, which range from sluice gates to further investigation work, are a direct result of feedback from flood surgeries and drop-in events held across the county.

They are also based on the findings of the Flood Investigation Report into the summer floods, produced by Devon County Council in partnership with the Environment Agency, district councils and South West Water.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, chair of the Devon flood risk management partnership and County Council spokesman for highways and transport, said: 'Communities have played a big part in highlighting the actions we're now putting into place, by providing important information at the flood surgeries and drop-in events.

'A lot of these measures, such as debris grills, may seem minor, but they should have a considerable impact in tackling the problems that compounded the effect of the heavy rainfall, which Devon suffered last year.

'These should help to protect our communities and make them more resilient against flooding.'

A number of schemes have been chosen from around the Ivybridge area to receive the funding.

Debris grills will be provided in Ivybridge, Yealmpton and Modbury, where more than 30 properties were flooded in July of last year.

Yealmpton will also receive sealed bolt-down manhole covers for a culvert in Ford Road.

A catchment study is also being carried out in Modbury to investigate the capacity of culverts in the town.

Devon County Council, the Environment Agency, East Devon Council, South Hams Council and South West Water worked in partnership on the Flood Investigation Report to determine the main causes of the summer floods.

Actions set out in the report are being prioritised by the relevant authority responsible and will be monitored regularly by Devon County Council's flood management team.

Further Flood Investigation Reports are currently in preparation relating to the more widespread flooding which affected communities around Devon in November and December.

Once complete, these will identify a further series of 'quick win' schemes, which will be implemented over the coming year.