Residents in a flood-prone part of Oxford have the chance to check out new state-of-the-art flood protection equipment on Friday.

The Environment Agency (EA) has spent £180,000 on flood barriers stretching more than 1,300ft to try to protect homes on Osney Island.

The barriers, stored at the EA's depot in Bridge Street on the island, should protect up to 75 properties during flood conditions similar to those in 2000, 2003 and 2007.

On Friday, between 4.30pm and 6.30pm, residents have the opportunity to see the barriers set up along part of the riverbank along East Street.

In a genuine emergency, the barriers would also be put up in West Street and South Street.

New lightweight pumps, which will work alongside the barriers, will also be on display.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Evan Harris and the Lord Mayor of Oxford Susanna Pressel are expected to attend.

EA experts will also be able to answer questions on the barriers and other flood risk management work carried out by the agency since July last year.

EA area project manager Geoff Bell told the Oxford Mail the defences were the first tangible result of the agency's £2m investment in flood protection measures in Oxford.

He said: "We want to give residents of Osney, and the wider parts of the city, a chance to come down and see the barriers up close.

"They are just one step in a much wider scheme to reduce the risk of flooding to properties across the city."

Last month, the EA completed a £50,000 maintenance programme to remove a pinch-point along a drainage system at Redbridge to help avoid problems upstream in Abingdon Road and New Botley.

Later this year the agency is expected to start a £1.8m programme of short-term measures in the city.

Mr Bell added: "These works are all part of the wider Oxford strategy, which will identify a long-term sustainable solution to flood risk in the city."

The flood defence barriers to be installed along riverbanks on Osney Island were designed in Sweden by Geodesign Barriers.

The EA has used similar barriers along the River Severn at Shrewsbury, Bewdley, Ironbridge Gorge, Worcester and Upton-upon- Severn.