Marlow's MP Dominic Grieve has hailed the “fantastic” news that the town is to get its long-awaited flood protection scheme.

Mr Grieve has long since been a supporter of the £8 million project to build flood walls, groundwater pumps and overflow ‘containment areas’ around the town.

Having been granted planning permission in 2010, Mr Grieve said in the summer that the Government should “get on with” finding the remaining funding – as much as £3m - after floods wreaked havoc in Marlow last winter.

After lobbying the Environment Secretary over the plans, the Conservative says he is delighted it has made the Government’s £2.3 billion flood infrastructure list, announced this week.

He told the BFP: “It’s fantastic news. The main difference between this scheme and others is they are paper schemes, and this is already fully worked up.

“The problems with this have been relatively minor, and a comparatively small cash gap in a scheme otherwise approved. I’m absolutely delighted it’s going ahead.”

The funding has been allocated through the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.

The Environment Agency will manage the scheme, which will raise the standard of protection for 287 properties in Marlow.

The agency says the project could start as early as the New Year, with planning permission originally due to elapse in May if the work did not begin.