THE Environment Agency has insisted that flood defence plans are in place following news that Enfield is the third most likely place to be flooded in Britain.

New figures reveal that over 9,000 properties across the borough are at risk from flooding.

According to the Environment Agency, Enfield is particularly vulnerable to flooding from its four watercourses - the River Lea, Salmons Brook, Turkey Brook and Pymmes Brook - which all react rapidly to heavy rainfall.

But this week a spokeswoman from the Environment Agency insisted that there are plans in place for a scheme for Salmons Brook, which runs from Enfield Chase to Pymmes Brook.

The scheme, yet to receive funding and land approval, includes raising the banks and providing an additional channel for water.

The news follows accusations of a lack of flood defence information coming from the authorities.

The Environment Agency is responsible for the management of flood prevention, with support from Enfield Council.

But resident Brian Cornell, of Larmans Road, Freezywater, said he was concerned the council was not on top of the risks.

He said: "I rang the council to ask which rivers I was vulnerable to, but they could not tell me because they could not find my road on the map."

Mr Cornell said that Turkey Brook used to be dredged out every two years following floods in 1947, but this is no longer the case.

A council spokesman was unable to comment, but said the local authority was in the process of requesting more information from the Environment Agency about the figures, which were released last week.

An Environment Agency spokeswoman said that works have also been carried out to Sadlers Mill Stream, in Edmonton, to make it flow more freely, and are planned for Hounsden Gutter, which rises in Southgate, early next year.

She advised that people register with a flood warning scheme to receive alerts