A community project in Sutton will receive £50,000 of funding to reduce the risk of flooding in the area.

Floods Minister Thérèse Coffey visited Muschamp Primary School in Carshalton this week to officially make the natural flood management announcement.

The Sutton schools project in Hackbridge will now see rain gardens and tree planting introduced at seven schools and a local council building to reduce surface water flooding.

It’s estimated that 112 homes and businesses in the area will now have less chance of being flooded in future.

Thérèse Coffey said: “I am thrilled to announce £50,000 to improve Sutton’s natural flood defences. Through this funding Sutton is leading the way for other towns and cities, showing how improved natural drainage in schools can reduce flood risk for homes, businesses and the wider community.

“These drainage schemes will not only better protect 112 properties, they will also engage Sutton’s school children on the benefits that maintaining a healthy environment can bring.”

58 projects throughout the country have received a share of Government funding worth £15 million for natural flood management.

Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, said: “Natural flood management is an important part of our approach, alongside traditional flood defences and helping homeowners to improve their own property resilience.

“There is no one size fits all solution to flooding and this scheme is a fantastic example of how we can use a variety of measures that work together to reduce flood risk.”

Sutton Council, The Wandle Trust and The South East Rivers Trust will receive the £50,000 with local school children helping with the garden designs.