SURVEY work is due to begin for permanent defences to protect a flood-hit village.

Experts from the Environment Agency are due to visit Severn Stoke later this month to carry out research.

The work comes more than three years after parts of the village were devastated by floods.

It is hoped the study will allow the Environment Agency to prepare a detailed plan to protect homes, businesses and the A38 between Worcester and the M5.

The village has been hit by flooding in the past, including in February 2014 when 19 houses and three businesses were affected including the 500-year-old Rose and Crown pub, where the water rose to the height of the bar.

St Denys Church and the village hall were also hit and a crisis meeting followed in March when villagers were shown drawings of a scheme with an earth embankment which they hoped could spare them future misery.

The defence has yet to materialise, but recent negotiations with several landowners have proved more fruitful.

The exploratory work follows a meeting hosted by West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin, who brought together the Environment Agency, the local flood action group and landowners to discuss the latest plans.

Mrs Baldwin has also been working with Worcestershire County Council and Highways England to try and source materials to help build the flood bunds – and reduce the overall cost of the scheme.

She said: “A few weeks ago, I gathered all the parties together to try and move this scheme forward and get agreement to develop a formal scheme.

“There have been some complex negotiations because the flood scheme will need to cross private land but I hope that we have achieved a level of agreement to allow the Environment Agency to start their exploratory works.

“The scheme will be very expensive to deliver so I have been meeting with various public bodies to try and source materials from the extensive construction work taking place across the county – both at housing developments and also the M5 and A4440 road schemes.

“We are working together to try and find innovative ways to make this important scheme a reality.”

Retired colonel Tim Weeks, chairman of the Severn Stoke Action Group, said: "There has been encouraging progress. We have agreement in principle with the landowners for a scheme to be designed to protect the village. I'm quietly optimistic."

He said the Environment Agency would be digging boreholes along the proposed route and that the scheme would then be costed.

He expects the scheme to involve thousands of tonnes of clay to construct the bund and the community continues to raise funds towards it.

Richard Bentley from the Environment Agency said: “We are working closely with land owners, residents, local council and MP to develop the most appropriate flood defence scheme for the local community.

"Work is progressing well and we will continue to work with all parties to find the best solution for the village and residents of Severn Stoke.”