Nine columns will form the first line of defence against future flooding in the Laxey River.

The Department of Infrastructure (DoI) is to install the 3.4m high structures to help prevent a repeat of the events of October 2019.

On that occasion, fallen trees travelled downstream and caused an obstruction that led to parts of lower Laxey being flooded.

Once installed, just beyond the wooden bridge in Glen Roy, the catchers are designed to allow water to be diverted around the structure when there is debris in situ.

The scheme involves the installation of a debris catcher comprising nine steel tubes and associated river bank strengthening works.

Construction was due to commence on Tuesday and will take up to 10 weeks to complete.

The tubes will be set in a row of five and a row of four, offset in order to trap trees and other debris from travelling further downstream, causing blockages at critical points in the valley.

This in turn may cause the river level to rise where it may cause harm to properties and infrastructure.

According to the DoI, this design ’allows for easy access to clear accrued debris’.

A statement from the department said: ’The debris catcher is designed to allow water flow of more than 1.8 metres high to be diverted around the structure via a bypass where there is debris in situ.

’The water would then return to the river downstream of the debris catcher in a controlled manner.

’The debris catcher is designed to cope with a 1:100 year flood event with an allowance of 30% for climate change.’

All footpaths will remain open throughout the works and be accessible to the public.

Since the flood, the department has made improvements to its procedures for clearing the river course way in the valley and erected a higher wall on Glen Road in an attempt to prevent future flooding.