Work has begun on building a new river wall following the devastating floods in Laxey.

The Department of Infrastructure has been digging out foundations for a new 3m wall, 20cm higher than the one it will replace.

It will consist of pre-cast concrete units and then faced with local stone.

The first sections are expected to be in place by next week, and the project is scheduled to take 16 weeks.

Skips have been provided for residents’ use and workers have helped residents clear around properties, pathways and driveways.

Where garden walls have fallen into the river, these are being temporarily protected by rock armour.

A large-scale clearance operation continues for the entire catchment of the Laxey River and its tributaries.

Joint-working teams involving the DoI, Manx Utilities, Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture and contractors have been working on clearing debris, and this will continue into the weeks ahead.

Some 50 tonnes of timber debris carried down the river at the height of the flood has been removed.

Another 687 tonnes of gravel deposited between the weir structure and the Woollen Mills have also been removed.

Temporary remedial work on scour holes upstream from Swales Bridge is taking place by putting sacks of concrete in place until a permanent solution is designed and implemented.

Riverbanks are being cleared by joint agencies, and work programmes planned where replacement is required due to the bank collapsing.

The DoI is clearing all gullies on the main routes around Laxey to remove material deposited during the flooding and this will be extended into side roads and around housing areas.

Works have begun on clearing the waterfall and culvert that is behind the DoI depot on Glen Road, and a new design for the culvert is being worked on.

Temporary work has also been carried out on the culvert that runs under the road near the Old New Inn, which will also require a new design.

A DoI spokesman said: ’Since the flooding occurred on October 1 a considerable amount of time has been spent by a range of government agencies supporting local residents, listening to their concerns and taking action.’