A town is set to benefit from a new pot of Government cash to protect communities against flooding.

A £9.7 million scheme can now go ahead in Skipton to reduce flooding to 350 residential and 165 businesses in the market town.

A total of £2 million of the project cost has been brought forward by businesses.

The partnership approach targets Government support towards the most at-risk and deprived communities and gives local people greater choice about levels of local flood protection.

A £50.5 million scheme in Leeds to protect 495 businesses and create more than 18,000 jobs is among those approved for construction, with Leeds City Council contributing £10 million and proposals to raise £5 million from local companies.

Yesterday, almost 100 new flood defences across the UK were given the green light in a move the Government says will better protect more than 64,000 homes from flooding.