A £13million flood protection plan for the River Roding has finally been passed by the Environment Agency.

The river, which runs through Wanstead and South Woodford, is regularly put on flood alert, most recently for several days between December to February this year.

The approved plans include building two new pumping stations and a flood storage area in Chigwell Road, Woodford Green, which will cost around £3million, with construction to be completed by 2016.

There will be a further flood storage area at Shonks Mill, north of the M25, to reduce the river's flow. It will cost around £10million, with construction set to be completed by 2025.

In a letter written to Redbridge councillors last week, the Environment Agency said around 1000 people will benefit from the plan.

It said: "We are now adopting the recommendations of the strategy and beginning to implement the preferred options.

"We are writing to all properties and landowners within the boundary of the River Roding’s flood plain, advising them of the strategy recommendations and how the implementation will impact on their property.

"The implementation of this strategy will benefit 1000 properties in the catchment."

Liberal Democrat Cllr Ian Bond, of Roding ward, welcomed the news.

He said: "This is good news that the plan has been formally implemented and it is certainly a long time coming but there is finally movement on the matter.

"It has been a really slow process but the end is in sight for people who are affected by flooding along the river.

"There was terrible flooding in 2000 and councillors has been trying to get something sorted since then, we will continue to work closely with the agency."

To view the plans click here.