EUROPEAN funding is being sought to repair the 300-year-old Dulverton Weir.

The weir, bought at a peppercorn price by West Somerset Council around 15 years ago, suffered significant damage in the flooding which struck Dulverton in November and December last year.

Now local Dulverton and District ward member Cllr Keith Ross has had talks with West Somerset MEP Sir Graham Watson in the hope of securing enough grant aid to give the weir a complete overhaul.

"Basically at least a third of the weir needs to be rebuilt. It's just not holding the water," said Cllr Ross

Cllr Ross said European cash had helped fund previous repairs in 2000.

West Somerset Council earmarked £10,000 towards the work when it met on Wednesday, but the total cost will be much higher than that, and Cllr Ross said that other ways of funding the repairs had to be looked at.

Sir Graham has written to the Department of Rural Affairs to see if funding can be secured for a second time.

"I understand that the weir is not fully functioning following the terrible flooding experienced in West Somerset late last year," he said.

"This has led to the drying up of the nearby mill leat.

"However, with the next spending round of European funding currently being negotiated, the Government is well behind plans on how regional funding, including the rural development programme, will be spent.

"I look forward to the response from the Minister and I hope funding can be found to repair the weir."