TWO Ribble Valley villages are being offered grants to make vulnerable homes and businesses more resilient to flooding.

Whalley and Ribchester have been selected to receive a share of the Government’s £5million Flood Protection Grant Scheme, which will help hundreds of households in flood risk areas across the UK.

This comes after last month’s torrential downpours brought chaos to the picturesque villages. The deluge overwhelmed rivers and drains, flooding roads, businesses and parks.

Both communities regularly suffer from low-level flooding from the River Calder and Boyce’s Brook.

An estimated £120,000 has been earmarked for properties in the villages towards flood defence measures, such as flood-boards for doors, floodgates and vent covers.

Stuart Hirst, chairman of Ribble Valley Council’s health and housing committee, said: “We are delighted that this money has been available to help properties at risk of flooding and would urge anyone living in a flood risk area to register for Floodline.”

The number of flood risk properties in Whalley and Ribchester registered for the Environment Agency’s Floodline has increased from 25 to 75 per cent following a council campaign.

Coun Hirst added: “Floodline take up in Ribble Valley has traditionally been low, but we recently delivered leaflets to two of the borough’s four flood risk areas encouraging them to register.

“Since then registration has risen to 75 per cent, which is a significant improvement.”

Floodline is a free service that provides flood warnings to householders by telephone, text, e-mail and fax.

The four flood risk areas in Ribble Valley are Whalley, Ribchester, Low Moor, Clitheroe, and Taylor Street near Mearley Brook, Clitheroe.