ALMOST 12,000 homes are set to benefit from the second major flood risk reduction scheme to get underway in Boston in the last six weeks.

The Environment Agency has started a project costing up to £15,000 aimed at keeping down water levels along a 10km stretch of the South Forty Foot Drain by removing plants and weeds.

Carried out on behalf of the Agency by contractor P and R Plant Hire, the scheme is expected to take about nine weeks to complete and comes as work on a £40,000 flood defence scheme to repair a culvert at RSPB Freiston Shore nears its finish.

A spokesman told the Target: "Weeds and algae grow very quickly during summer and can cause a flood risk by reducing the flow of water and raising river levels. This is particularly true during periods of heavy rain.

"The type of weed which is being removed from the South Forty Foot Drain is mainly cott weed – also known as blanket weed.

"This can grow rapidly and very quickly chokes rivers causing an increased flood risk and affecting navigation.

"Footpaths and bridleways running alongside the river will remain open during the works and warning signs will be erected."

Work on the flood defence scheme at RSPB Freiston Shore began in August and is scheduled to finish this month.

It has seen a culvert in the sea bank repaired and has been described as "vital" by the Agency which says were this to collapse inland properties and the nature reserve would be left at the mercy of the sea.