Government minister Elliot Morley today officially started work on multi-million pound defences designed to stop Sussex flooding.

Floods minister Mr Morley cut the first turf on the banks of the River Rother near Robertsbridge at a ceremony this morning.

The river banks will be raised in a £2.8 million project to safeguard 100 homes prone to flooding when water levels rise.

Engineers believe the work will prevent a repeat of the devastating floods which hit the village two years ago.

The village's defences are part of a county-wide plan to end the misery for thousands of families whose homes are under almost annual threat from water.

Major works are also underway in Pevensey Bay, Shoreham and Chichester.

Consultations are being carried out to design a solution for Lewes.

Mr Morley said: "Robertsbridge has suffered greatly from repeated flooding so this new scheme has been fast-tracked to help protect homes and businesses."

The scheme has been financed by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Environment Agency (EA).

Mr Morley said the risk of flooding could not be totally eliminated but hoped the defences would forestall a repeat of the floods which hit the picturesque village in autumn 2000.

More than 80 houses were swamped with water, some to depths of 1.2 metres (3ft).

Environment Agency flood defence manager Andrew Pearce said: "Since the EA designated the village a top priority following the floods of 2000 we have been working closely with local people to ensure the right standard of defence is put in place with the least possible visual impact."

The EA estimates the defences, which also include 750 metres of flood walls and moveable floodgates, would increase the protection standard to one in 100 years, an increase from the current standard of one in five years.

The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2003.