A special group to tackled deluges at a town's hotspots has been formed.

The Deal Flood Water Action Taskforce (Deal-WAT) will handle longstanding sewage problems in the town – particularly Albert Road.

Members will report jointly to the co-chairmen, Dover and Deal MP Natalie Elphicke and Ian McAulay, chief executive of Southern Water.

The company is backing the taskforce with £500,000 in resources and supporting research work.

The new group will also be supported by the the water regulator Ofwat plus Dover District Council and Kent County Council, both of whom will provide officer support and technical expertise.

Both DDC chartered civil engineer Roger Walton and KCC flood risk manager Max Tant are members.

Also a member is DDC Middle Deal ward councillor Trevor Bond.

For years many parts of Deal have been hit by flooding and residents of Albert Road along with Mrs Elphicke have in particular long campaigned for action.

The announcement of the task force follows Mrs Elphicke raising the matter frequently in Parliament with ministers, as well as Ofwat.

She said: "The aim of this task force is to address these problems and find solutions. Getting everyone round the table is the best way to do that.

“Our plan is to report back to the residents of Deal in six months.”

Mr McAulay said: “Southern Water is committed to the highest possible standards of customer service and environmental protection.

"I hope this task force will bring an end to flooding misery."

" To deal with the challenge of climate change, in particular flooding, means managing water from all sources more effectively and needs innovative solutions."

Cllr Bond said: "I hope the actions from this task force will be able to bring an end to flooding misery once and for all.”

Mr Walton, who is specifically his council's strategic director for operations and commerce, said: “This is a significant step towards providing a permanent technical solution to eliminate the risk of further incidents of flooding continuing to blight the lives of local residents.”

Deal-WAT will undertake detailed technical work, which will include:

Mapping of all drainage and waterways in the wider district area, which contribute to the build-up of flooding.

Assessing the capacity of the foul and surface water drainage systems and their coping with future rainfall patterns.

Identifying where work is needed to meet planned housing and growth plans and pinpointing other localised flooding hotspots.

The study report will make recommendations for both remedial and enhancement work as well as any further exploratory studies required.

It is expected to complete its initial report and recommendations within six months.

The task force will, where needed, seek the involvement of landowners, developers and drainage bodies.

Read more: All the latest news from Deal