A FLOOD defence proposal has moved a step closer this week after county council bosses stepped in to offer reclaimed soil for local flood defences.

Council leader Adrian Hardman has written to Harriett Baldwin, Conservative parliamentary candidate for West Worcestershire, confirming that spare soil from major construction projects could be diverted to help build bunds in Severn Stoke.

Hundreds of metres of bund will have to be created to protect the homes and businesses in the flood-hit village but the soil is extremely expensive to source.

The news will be a major boost for villagers who worked with Mrs Baldwin to secure a plan for permanent flood protection.

Mrs Baldwin said: “There are many major construction projects underway across the county and it makes sense to save some of this left-over soil to put it to good use in Severn Stoke.

“This kind offer by Adrian Hardman will mean that we can look to reduce the overall cost of flood defences even further, reducing the cost to the public purse.

“I have always said that we need to be smart to try and find ways of making the Severn Stoke scheme cheaper and this is one important step in the right direction.”

The gesture by the county council was welcomed by Peter Fryar, landlord of the Rose and Crown in Severn Stoke, who had to flee the 500-year-old pub with his wife in the dead of night during last February's devastating floods.

He said: "Anything that brings down the cost of building the bund is a positive and would be very much welcomed by the Severn Stoke FLAG (flood action group)."

Mr Fryar, a member of the FLAG group, said the bund would cost around £1.1 million with £600,000 coming from the Government and the village having to raise the rest.

He said a Village Day on Saturday, August 8 between 2pm and 6pm would also help raise funds for the defences.

The day on the village green will include a barbecue, a pig roast, live music including a rock choir, tug of war and novelty races for children.