WORK is under way to create a £9m flood alleviation system which will mean a cleaner river in parts of Rossendale.

Staff from United Utilities spent yesterday taking delivery of 1,000 cubic metres of concrete to the site in Newchurch Road, Stacksteads.

The 170 wagon loads were poured into the bottom of a 30 metre-deep tank, which had been placed in the ground.

Once completed, the tank system will prevent the River Irwell becoming polluted in the event of heavy rain, which the sewer cannot deal with.

According to Shaun Robinson, head of relations for United Utilities, the tank is able to hold 2.7 million gallons of water — the equivalent of five Olympic-sized swimming pools.

In the event of what the Environment Agency descri-bes as a ‘1-in-30’ storm, the sewers in Stacksteads struggle to deal with the heavy rain and overflow, he said.

The water then runs into the River Irwell causing pollution. But Mr Robinson said the new system will solve the problem He added: “The water tension tank will automat-ically kick in, fill up and hold the water until the sewer is able to cope with them. People in Rawtenstall will benefit from this action and see a better river running through the town.”

The deliveries were to the site on the A681 close to Branwood Road, between 6am and 6pm yesterday.

The wagons entering and leaving the site were controlled by banks of men and stop-go boards, which caused slight delays for motorists.Letter were sent to residents prior to the work.