Pumping stations protecting swathes of farmland in Lancashire from flooding will not be switched off at the end of March, as planned.

The Environment Agency said five pumps in the Alt Crossens catchment, serving West Lancashire, will now continue to operate until the end of March 2023.

The two-year extension has been hailed as "very good news indeed" by West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper.

Mrs Cooper said that without the pumps, "West Lancashire was to be left as marshland".

The Crossens pumping station in Southport. Image from Google.

placeholder image — The Crossens pumping station in Southport. Image from Google.

The pumps help to relieve flooding in areas including Mere Brow, Rufford, Banks and Ormskirk, which are low-lying and cannot be drained by gravity.

Much of the land affected is high-grade agricultural land, but there are also around 6,000 properties at risk.

For a number of years, the future of the pumps has been in doubt due to funding issues.

A spokesperson at the Environment Agency said: “We are committed to working on finding new ways to manage water levels for the economy, environment and community in Alt Crossens.

MP Rosie Cooper looking at flooding in West Lancashire with an affected land owner

“We have supported the extension of the current notices to continue to operate the pumps to the end of March 2023 and formal letters advising landowners of this will be sent by post in the coming weeks.”

Mrs Cooper said: "Just in the past month, West Lancashire has suffered widespread and repeated flooding, which would undoubtedly would have been a lot worse if the pumps had been switched off.

“Switching off the pumps would mean that West Lancashire was to be left as marshland which would never have been acceptable, so the extension is very good news indeed.

“This extension will give much needed time for the Environment Bill to pass through Parliament and eventually allow for the creation of an Internal Drainage Board in West Lancashire, which will be essential in preventing future flooding.“