GRANTS totalling £15,000 have been made to a handful of households in Teignbridge to help protect their properties against flooding.

Two homes in East Ogwell will receive £9,000 to guard against rising water levels, while £4,500 has been earmarked for a property in Bovey Tracey, and £1,500 for a house in Kingsteignton.

The cash forms a share of £247,000 being awarded in the South West under the Property Level Flood Protection Grant Scheme which enables householders to benefit from practical flood protection measures such as air bricks covers, storm porches, door guards and flood boards.

Floods Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said: "In the future we must be prepared for more extreme weather on all levels.

"Since the floods of 2007, we have been taking action on a range of fronts to protect against the heart-breaking damage and destruction that can be caused by floods."

The Teignbridge grants are part of second-round funding totalling £2.6million.