Flood defence plan launched

A BID to prevent flooding on the banks of the Water of Leith has been launched by Edinburgh City Council.

It has lodged applications to improve flood defences at the Stockbridge Colonies, Bonnington Bridge and Warriston viaduct.

The defences are designed to guard against a repeat of the major floods of April 2000, when a 36-hour downpour caused Edinburgh's worst flooding for 80 years, hitting 600 homes and offices and causing 25 million of damage.