A £3 million project to build a tide gauge in Sutton Bridge will “significantly improve” flood alerts in the area, environment officials have claimed.

Plans to build a 13-metre high tide gauge in The Wash at Outer Westmark Knock, near Sutton Bridge Port, were unveiled at a parish council meeting on Tuesday. The project is being run by the Environment Agency with support from the port authority, Ministry of Defense, Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Association and utility company Centrica.

During the council meeting, project executive Angela Scott said: “The whole purpose of The Wash tide gauge is to try and fill in a gap in the national network of 43 tidal gauges across the country.

“This one is for the gap between Immingham and Cromer and it will significantly improve our flood warning services around The Wash.

“The need for it was actually raised in 1953 but the problem is where do you put one?

Mobilizing for the work to build the tide gauge is started at the end of April.