Residents celebrated the end of a nine year campaign yesterday when work started on flood defences.

The Buxted Flood Pressure Group, formed after the River Uck burst its banks in 2000, has campaigned for flood defences for homes. Yesterday, they toasted the start of work by the Environment Agency to put culverts in the bridge over the River Uck on the A272.

Resident Sheila Kelly, who lives in Station Road, Buxted, said: “We have tried to work with everybody as opposed to arguing with everybody. Wealden councillor Norman Buck and East Sussex county councillor Tony Reid were both terribly supportive. We are ecstatic.”

The work ensures the five properties and pub on the road will now have a one in 75 chance of being flooded instead of the one in seven before.