FLOODING problems in parts of Stacksteads should soon be a thing of the past -- thanks to a new raft of council funding.

Businesses and homes in the Shade End area have been hit by freak floods on a number of occasions in recent years.

But now members of Rossendale Council's corporate policy committee has approved around £12,000 worth of funding to remove the culverted stream which runs through the neighbourhood.

The culvert has also caused extensive flooding problems this year for firms in the Toll Bar Business Park.

Tenders are currently being sought and it is hoped that the work will be completed before winter.

Fireplace company, Petra Hellas at Toll Bar Business Park, Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, suffered £25,000 of damage to their ground floor showroom when the River Irwell burst its banks.

Partner Tracey Strudwick said: "We welcome anything that will help prevent us from being flooded again.

"We have been here 11 years and have been flooded twice, the last being in June.

"It is absolutely devastating when you are flooded. The anguish you go through is unbelievable.

"Last time we had to take down walls and it also destroyed the carpets.

"We had two men on site for two days to vacuum up the water and clean up the slurry.

"Some stock was damaged because it was stained and that is being sold in a clearance sale.

"B &E Boys were very helpful and supplied us with sandbags and so were Durham Landscapers in Helmshore they helped tidy everything up for us free of charge.

"The only thing now is that when it rains you become very paranoid, as soon as it starts we are out with the sandbags.

"So we are very pleased with the news."

Highways and engineering services manager, Brian Holmes said the council have gone for the more expensive option to help prevent any future floods in the area.

He said: "The culvert really needed a good clean out.

"I put a report together to the relevant committee to say it needs cleaning out.

"The structure is redundant and it would be better if it was removed which the committee agreed to.

"We are waiting for the tenders to come back so the work can be carried out so when the rains comes down again it should be able to cope with it without flooding."