A £170,000 Somerset Rivers Authority scheme to reduce flood risks in Monksilver starts on Monday (April 8) and will involve the closure of the main road through the village for up to three weeks.

At least 15 properties will benefit from works to stop mud and water surging down towards people’s homes from surrounding steep hills, roads and bridleways.

Parts of Monksilver have flooded several times in recent years because the drains in two key places cannot cope with the volume of water that comes down off the Brendon Hills.

Works are going to be done in three phases. The first two phases will focus on upgrading drainage systems at the northern end of the village, on the B3188 and then down Beech Tree Hill., and the third will make improvements at the southern end, where Birds Hill Lane goes down into High Street.

The scheme has been designed for the SRA by Somerset County Council’s Highways Department and the works will be carried out by Skanska.

All phases will require temporary road closures, with clearly signposted diversions.

The first three-week phase from Monday to Sunday April 28 will re-route B3188 traffic via Ralegh’s Cross along the B3224 and B3190.

The second five-week phase between Monday April 29 and Friday May 31 will re-route Beech Tree Hill traffic out round towards the edge of Stogumber and back.

And the third three-week phase between Monday June 3 and Friday June 21 requires a simpler, more local diversion to the west of Monksilver.

Village businesses will be open as usual throughout, and the annual summer church fete on June 1 will be unaffected.