A local authority has pledged £500,000 towards a scheme to reduce flooding to communities along the River Medway, but MPs are warning it could take years for flood defence plans to be put in place.

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has agreed the partnership contribution towards a project run by the Environment Agency and Kent County Council, which is set to cost £24.6m.

This scheme will include improvements to the Leigh Flood Storage Area, as well as a flood protection bund at Hildenborough.

Also included in the proposed package is a separate scheme of flood mitigation measures at East Peckham.

Nicolas Heslop, leader of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, said: "This is a very important and complex project, which will benefit communities in our borough enormously.

"Increasing the capacity of the Leigh Flood Storage Area and adding new flood defences at Hildenborough and East Peckham will provide much improved flood protection for 2,500 residential properties and businesses, and I’m delighted that the council is able to help fund this key piece of work."

This news comes as MPs are calling for an overhaul of the way flooding in England is dealt with.

The Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Committee wants to see a new national floods commissioner, as well as major changes in flood prevention.

But it has warned that extra government money to manage risks is unlikely to deliver protection for decades to come.

A number of public sessions were held in Tonbridge, Yalding, and Maidstone to update communities on proposals to provide a cost effective solution in each area.

Completion of the project is dependent upon achieving full funding for the scheme, which has not yet been done.

The business case for the project will be considered by the Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) in 2018.

If full funding has been found and the business case is approved, the detailed design phase can then begin, with hopes that construction works will be completed by 2022.

Due to the other steps necessary to get the go-ahead for this project, TMBC's contribution will be made in 2020/21.