York could be the first place in the country to test a new temporary flood defence scheme.

Residents in Clementhorpe, which suffered flooding in 2000, could have their homes protected in future by a 1.5-metre high barrier, which would be placed along their street at times of high water levels.

The plastic structure, which is worth between £120,000 and £150,000, has been offered to City of York Council for a free test by Derbyshire-based firm Aquabarrier.

The barrier is one of a number of temporary flood defence solutions which will be discussed by the council's ruling executive next Tuesday.

Councillors will consider a study carried out by council engineers on how to protect the city in the interim period while the Environment Agency prepares its strategic work plans for 2005 to 2015.

Coun Andrew Waller, executive member for environment and sustainability, said: "This is a first for York. The work is being paid for by Aquabarrier.

"They wanted a location to test the product and this is a way of the council demonstrating that we are looking for solutions for defending the area."

If approved it is thought that the barrier could be ready for use in the new year. Council engineers believe that between 50 and 60 properties could be protected by the scheme.

Coun Waller said that Aquabarrier also produced products to protect individual homes. "We will be lobbying DEFRA (the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to provide grants to people to install these sorts of defences on their own homes," he said.

Updated: 10:17 Tuesday, November 02, 2004