A MULTI-MILLION pound project to protect Middlewich homes from flooding is now well under way.

Last week engineers from United Utilities set to work fixing the sewer network under Booth Lane and Cross Lane that has blighted the houses for more than 30 years.

Booth Lane resident Joanne Hurst, who has been forced to move out of her home twice following the floods, said she is thrilled that the work is taking place.

“We are just so pleased that things are happening,” she said.

“We know that things have been happening behind the scenes, but this will make a lot of the residents happier now that they can see that it’s happening and that things are being done.”

Following months of campaigning from the Guardian and residents, that culminated in a protest outside the United Utilities headquarters, bosses at the water company finally vowed to fix the problem in September 2007.

It was agreed to move the project into the 2005 to 2010 budget and anticipated that the ambitious scheme would be completed by 2010.

For the past year engineers have been collecting data and coming up with a final design to improve the sewer network.

Christian Ewan, from United Utilities, said that construction work was now taking place.

“We are currently developing a solution to alleviate the risk of flooding which has affected Booth Lane and Cross Lane during heavy rainfall,” he said.

“Our engineers are currently digging boreholes and trial holes on-site, which are necessary as part of our investigations.

“Once our investigations are completed we can work on devising a plan of action to tackle this issue.”

Ahead of the final solution United Utilities has installed an automatic waterpump on the canal and fitted flood barriers on the affected homes to protect them during heavy rainfall.

Joanne added: “We know there is still a long way to go yet, but they are keeping us informed and it’s such good news for us that things are finally happening.”

Representatives from United Utilities are due to meet with residents over the coming months to keep them up-to-date with the progress.