The Environment Agency (EA) has set out its plans for a proposed multi-million pound safety scheme to strengthen the barriers of a flood storage reservoir in Cambridgeshire.

The Agency held a stakeholder event last week, together with representatives from the local internal drainage boards, to explain the planned £25 million scheme at the flood storage reservoir at Whittlesey Washes, south of the River Nene.

Phased over three years and starting in 2013, the work will strengthen16km of the barrier bank which forms the reservoir dam between Stanground and Rings End. The reservoir, which is downstream of Peterborough, is used to store flood water when tides and river flows are high.

Engineer Guy Szomi, a member of the Environment Agency project team involved in the scheme, said the Whittlesey Washes played an important part in helping to reduce the risk of flooding and the flood storage reservoir was an effective way of reducing flood risk.

Representatives from the local internal drainage boards were also be on hand to discuss the proposals at the event.