A flood protection group in Somerset could soon be given its own legal powers following new proposals put forward by the Government.

The Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) was first established in 2015 after floods devastated the area.

Government ministers are currently working on the proposals. If the SRA becomes a legal entity it would have the power to raise its own money from council tax-payers.

Chairman of the SRA, John Osman, said: “This is very good news. It offers Somerset a long-term local funding solution for tackling flooding problems across the county and getting the extra protection and resilience that we need.”