WINCHESTER civic chiefs are setting aside £50,000 to investigate ways of combatting flooding.

Among the places that might receive infrastructure schemes, the Cabinet heard, are Water Lane in Winchester, North/South/Pitter Drive in Littleton and High Street, Sutton Scotney.

The county council, the highways authority, is looking at Bramdean where the A272 flooded and was closed for weeks.

The city council is administering several schemes to help residents and businesses affected by the deluge in February.

Nearly 200 have received assistance. The awards have been: Council tax discount scheme, 171; business rates flooding relief, 7; repair and renew grant, 6; business support scheme 7; hardship rate relief, 1; village halls and not-for-profit organisations 1.

The Cabinet yesterday agreed to extend the council tax discount for people not able to live at home to six months, subject to Government funding.