ENVIRONMENT Agency officers have put up flood defence barriers at Barons Quay this afternoon, Friday, as a weather warning takes effect.

The barriers - part of the town centre flood defences along the Rivers Weaver and Dane - were put up earlier today.

Northwich Guardian:

A Met Office 'yellow' weather warning for rain is in place for Northwich, until 3pm on Saturday.

WATCH >>> How the £7m flood defences are tested

Northwich Guardian:

Since its installation in June 2018, the 1.7km of kit – which includes floodgates and demountable barriers – has been tested and maintained.

The EA’s three-phase plan was enacted by closing floodgates at Waitrose and at the Dane Street bridge, as well as employing the demountable flood defences outside of Wildwood and ODEON. 

This channel of demountable defences – made of lightweight aluminium and easily transported and erected by a team of EA engineers.

At Dane Bridge, the two layers of barrier act as a channel to keep the water on the path of the River Dane and preventing it from spilling over towards London Road or Watling Street.

The floodgates are closed in a matter of minutes and, along with the glass panels, create a seal to protect the urbanised area from floodwater.

Demountable defences, like the one at Barons Quay and Dane Road bridge, are erected in around 45 minutes, with the equipment stored at the Winsford depot but dropped off at Northwich locations during periods of persistent bad weather.