Work has begun to protect Witney town centre against flooding.

Shops in Bridge Street suffered floods twice in the last year after the River Windrush burst its banks.

Oxfordshire County Council and the Environment Agency last week began clearing a bank of silt upstream on the river.

Geoff Bell, area flood risk manager for the Environment Agency, said: "We've listened to the concerns of residents along the River Windrush in Witney about this spot and we're very pleased to be working with the council to alleviate this risk."

Silt will also be removed downstream from the town centre to improve water flows.

County councildrainage engineer Gordon Hunt said: "This is a new approach for cleaning silt.

"It's more complicated because we have men actually working in the river but as long as it's done carefully and in clear conditions, there should be no problem."

The council and the EA will share the £20,000 bill.

Earlier this month, Max Sullivan-Webb, 17, died in flood water at Eastfield Road, in Witney. A study into tackling flooding there is under way.