FLOOD misery could be over for Chesham residents as measures to improve drainage are to be installed.

Residents of The Vale, Vale Road and Berkhampstead Road, Chesham, had struggled to combat serious flooding in February, after heavy rain left their houses in almost a foot of water for more than two weeks.

Buckinghamshire County Council promised to look into the problem, and put CCTV cameras down the drains to see what their next course of action should be.

Now work will be starting later this month to install a new drainage system.

The council plans to build a gully so the water run-off will be taken underground away from properties and businesses.

Town clerk Mike Kennedy said: "It remains to be seen [whether it will cure the problem] but whatever they do will improve it."

The work will start on August 20 and is expected to take between eight and ten weeks to complete.

A spokesman for the county council said: "A new storm water drainage system will be installed in Vale Road and it's going to be extended to Poplar Close and Bower Farm."