FURTHER work is being carried out to improve river walls in and around a town centre.

A programme of work is being carried out by Burnley Council at several sites along the rivers Brun and Calder to help reduce the risk of flooding this winter.

Around £35,000 will be spent on the Bank Hall retaining wall, with £15,000 set aside for essential tree removal to help prevent damage to river 'training' walls.

Work of repairing a wall on the Calder, at the rear of the town hall, was completed earlier this year, as was work to remove gravel from the bed of the Brun next to a retaining wall in Bank Hall.

The council is in discussions with the Environment Agency to carry out further improvement works to the retaining wall in Bank Hall over the winter.

Cllr Lian Pate, executive member for community services, said: “It’s important we keep our rivers flowing as smoothly as possible to reduce the risk of flooding and damage to the river banks.

"Removing vegetation from the banks, where appropriate, and improving the river walls will help keep our rivers flowing and improve the local environment.”