A PILOT project aimed at reducing flash flooding in a Darlington ward has seen residents take advantage of free water butts and planters.

Project Downpour was launched at the end of last year to encourage residents of the Park East ward to adopt simple measures to help alleviate flooding problems in the area.

Roads such as Bedford Street and Victoria Embankment are often subject to flash flooding during heavy downpours but it is hoped that simple steps such as residents collecting rainwater in butts will help reduce the problem.

Today (Wednesday April 1) a team from Groundwork North East and Cumbria, who are delivering the project, handed out water butts and planters to residents from a stall set up behind Bedford Street.

Many residents took the opportunity to have a free water butt - funded through the project - installed in their back yard.

The butts collect the rain water, which people are now using to water their plants and for other purposes such as washing a car or their windows, instead of it overwhelming the drainage system in heavy downpours.

The event also gave residents the chance to share information and experiences they have had with flooding.

Natalie Whitworth of Groundwork said the event was a success.

“It all went really well, better than expected, and we had 30 families come along in total,” she said.

“Everyone was quite positive about Project Downpour and were very keen to set up a residents group as well.

“We will run the project for a while longer and hopefully set up a residents group to talk about other issues in the Park East ward.”

Ms Whitworth said that the more residents who got onboard the project and installed water butts and planters to divert water away from the streets, the more successful the initiative will prove to be.

She added: “We are encouraging as many residents as possible to take part in the project, because even if they haven’t been affected by flooding they will be supporting their neighbourhood and helping other residents in the area who have.”

As well as the water butts and planters, the project also gave Park East residents the chance to win a £500 yard makeover and a Rosyln Street resident has been announced as the winner.

Project Downpour is being funded by the Environment Agency through Darlington Borough Council.