TEMPORARY flood defences installed by Sedgemoor District Council have been put in place in Blake Gardens to reassure residents in St Saviour’s Avenue their properties should not flood over Christmas and New Year with higher tides predicted.

A council spokesman said: “Elderly residents in St Saviour’s Avenue were first hit last year when Durleigh Brook could not discharge into the River Parrett due to high tides.

“While tides predicted are not so high, residents are understandably worried so we considered it ‘better safe than sorry’.”

It means no access to Blake Gardens from St Saviour’s Avenue.