WINCHESTER'S flood defences have been outlined in full to allay fears after catastrophic scenes in the north of England.

Tory councillor Kim Gottlieb sought assurances that the city could be protected from the torrential rain which has devastated many towns this year and hit Winchester in 2014.

Cllr Stephen Godfrey, leader of Winchester City Council, said: "While it is over simplistic to talk of a single 'flood operations plan' for the district or to believe that the city council can put any plan into effect in isolation from the other agencies, there is a high degree of forward planning to ensure that a coordinated response is made to any event."

Cllr Gottlieb hailed his constituents in the Itchen Valley for their "valiant" efforts to save Winchester from further flooding two years ago.

The city joined with the Environment Agency, water and energy companies, Local Nature Partnership, other councils and small flood action groups in the wake of February 2014's events.

The partnership has led to a host of improvements, Cllr Godfrey said, including a new wall in Water Lane, one of Winchester's worst hit areas in February 2014.

Engineering works at Lower Chilland bank will provide an extra 70 hectares of flood storage north of Winchester while extra flood defences are being planned for the north end of the city centre to protect buildings such as Winchester School of Art.

The town's sluices have also been repaired, with a new management plan updated, and the council has bought a portable flood barrier.

Cllr Godfrey identified a dozen further plans, schemes and policies addressing flooding across the district.