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A new £4.5m flood defence scheme is planned for Cornish town Boscastle, which was hit by disastrous floods in August 2004.

The Environemnt Agency claims the scheme, which has won the backing of North Cornwall District Council, will reduce the risk of further flooding. The scheme will consist of the lowering and widening of the River Valency, which will increase the capacity of the river when the water level is high.

Construction is due to start on the project next month and will take two years. As part of the defences the agency wants to demolish the existing 19th century Lower Bridge near the harbour and replace it with a larger bridge further down stream.

The flood in 2004 led residents being rescued by helicopter after 440 million gallons of water swept through the village.