A "shared service arrangement" has been signed between both Aberdeenshire and Moray Councils to develop a £3 million flood protection scheme at Huntly.

The agreement will result in a dedicated site supervision team being created who will work alongside the projects contractor.

Features of the eight-month scheme includes work to replace culverts, construction of embankments and water storage options.

Aberdeenshire Council Co-leader, Richard Thomson, said: "It is my hope that the Huntly community will be supportive of this decision which signals a positive stage in the process of protecting them against future weather events."

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Moray Council's economic development and infrastructure services committee chair, Cllr John Cowe, added: "We are very pleased to be helping out Aberdeenshire Council by seconding a member of staff who has been heavily involved in our own programme of flood alleviation schemes over recent years.

"It is fair to say that Moray Council has unparalleled experience and expertise in this type of work and we are only too happy to be sharing that with a neighbouring authority which in recent times has had its own problems with flooding."

It is hoped work on site can begin this August.

(LM/MH)