VOLUNTEER flood wardens on the Somerset Levels around Bridgwater can now be seen during emergencies, thanks to their new bright orange protective gear.

The clothing comes thanks to a grant of £1,500 from the Enterprise Foundation and is ideal for the outdoors.

It has been given to the wardens as they help their communities in Moorland and Fordgate, near Bridgwater.

Volunteer flood warden, Kate Symonds, said: "It's lovely stuff.

"It will keep us nice and warm in the winter and we will definitely stand out in a snow storm.

"We’re very pleased to have it, and by far the most useful thing is that it will mark us out as flood wardens – as local people who know what to do before a flood.

"Never forget, it isn’t just floods:-it could be snow and ice, it could be a burst water main, it could be anything.

"That’s the whole point.

"We’re called flood wardens, but it could be any emergency."

After the flooding in 2014, local people spent months drawing up flood resilience plans for every household in Moorland and Fordgate, supported by Somerset Rivers Authority and Environment Agency workers.

Part of the wardens’ role is to use local knowledge and practical training, to prepare for any flooding and minimise its impact.

The new clothing was donated after the charity SAFE South West teamed up through the Community Resilience in Somerset Project with Enterprise Rent-a-Car.

Steve Smith, co-ordinator of SAFE South West, said: "We work closely with local communities and Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service on issues of community safety.

"We knew just how important hi-vis protective clothing could be to the volunteer flood wardens of the Levels and Moors and we were delighted when – through Richard Cooper – the Enterprise Foundation gave us a grant of £1,500."

Richard Cooper, of Enterprise Rent-a-Car, said: "Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service are a long standing business partner of Enterprise Rent-A-Car so we were very keen and privileged to be able to support one of their chosen charities SAFE South West.

"It was fantastic to meet the flood wardens and present them with some of the much-needed equipment that will keep them safe in performing the valuable job they volunteer to do.