THE Environment Agency was today unveiling its future spending plans aimed at preventing more than 4,000 East Lancashire homes falling victim to flood water.

More than £1.1million is to be spent during the next year on schemes for the River Darwen, Pendle Water at Barrowford, Walverden Water at Nelson, and a central consultancy strategy for Burnley, Nelson and Colne, to protect thousands of the region's homes at high risk of flooding.

Plans for repair work, site investigation and consultancy on these rivers to reduce the risk of flooding were due to be discussed in detail today at a meeting of the Agency's flood defence committee.

The agency has identified a number of strategic risk areas (SRAs), where there is "high density" risk of flooding.

These include 2,017 homes in Burnley, Nelson and Colne, 1,447 in Clitheroe, Whalley and Accrington, and 867 in Blackburn and Darwen.

Possible solutions for flooding around the River Darwen through Darwen and Blackburn will be investigated, as well as the "historical flooding" of around 120 properties at Ribchester because of inadequate channel structures.

Environment Agency workers hope to be able to solve these problems through improvements and walling.

Among other plans to be discussed were channel improvements at Reedyford Bridge, downstream on Pendle Water, and improvements to prevent flooding of residential and commercial properties around Walverden Water.

The channel capacity and flood defences on the River Ribble, at Samlesbury, also need checking because of possible flood risk to the Tickled Trout hotel complex, homes, and the A677.

Barrowford councillor Allan Vickerman welcomed the investment.

He said: "We get a lot of flooding problems in Barrowford.

"A lot of work has been done already over the last couple years around the Newbridge area, which used to flood quite regularly and the Bull Holme river bed.

"We are waiting for work to continue around the bridge on the way into Barrowford, so I hope the money will be used for that."

The Environment Agency will spend £14.2million in total on flood prevention in Lancashire in 2004/05, rising to £14.7million the following year.

Investment will then stay at £15.2million every year to 2015, according to a report to today's committee meeting.