Work has started on a £250,000 package of emergency schemes to combat flooding in West Sussex.

High-risk sites throughout the county have been earmarked.

The first work has begun at Singleton, near Chichester, where Tex Pemberton, Cabinet member for the environment on West Sussex County Council, put on a hard hat and climbed into a digger to help turn the first turf.

He was watched by seven fellow Cabinet members after having taken them on a day-long tour of roads and town centres in the county looking at transport issues.

The work in Singleton has been designed to improve the flow of the River Lavant and reduce the risk of a repeat of the severe flooding which caused havoc late last year.

Councillor Pemberton said of the £56,000 project: "Very heavy rainfall led to untold misery and we want to try to avoid this happening again."

Other areas where drainage improvements will take place during the next few months include the A272 at Bolney and Newbridge, Southwater village, near Horsham, Mouse Lane in Steyning, Rusper Road at Ifield and the A29 at Shripney, near Bognor.