'EUPHORIC, sheer joy, absolute delight, slight disbelief' — these were the words of the Radcliffe community after they received the long-awaited news that they will benefit from a £46 million flood defence scheme.

The Boxing Day floods of 2015 left hundreds of people displaced from their homes, many trying to salvage their belongings as the water levels rose.

But two and a half years on, the residents of Parkside Close, Radcliffe, say their hope has been restored.

On Friday, the Government announced it would meet the £7 million funding shortfall to enable plans for a flood defence scheme along the River Irwell to move forward.

Members of the Radcliffe and Redvales Flood Action Group (RRFAG) celebrated the announcement with a glass of bubbly.

Joyce Walkden, a member of the task group, said: "I'm euphoric for everyone. It is just amazing. It is sheer joy, absolute delight, slight disbelief that we are actually here.

"I honestly didn't think that Radcliffe would get that gap closed. We thought it was a lost cause.

"It has restored my faith in the system.

"And the best thing is I don't have to chain myself to any railings in Close Park to make sure we get the funding. I was willing to do anything to close that gap."

The Parkside Close home of Ms Walkden and husband Robert Goodman was one of more than 670 properties in Radcliffe and Redvales that were flooded.

In the immediate aftermath of the devastation, working group RRFAG was formed to liaise with Bury Council and the Environment Agency.

Ms Walkden said: "We were viewed as though we wanted to apportion blame but actually we wanted to safeguard everyone and that goal has been achieved now.

"Moving forward we need to make the scheme as painless as possible. We need to liaise with all agencies to make sure there is minimum disruption.

"And we need to keep lobbying about planning consent on brownfield sites that are floodplains."

Ms Walkden thanked chairwoman of RRFAG Colette Jones, who has led the team, attended countless meetings, and kept residents informed.

"Colette's drive and force has kept the flood forum going", she said before adding: "She has led the action group in representing the community and keeping the pressure up."

Ms Walkden also thanked Paul O'Hare at Manchester Metropolitan University, the National Flood Forum and the politicians who have lobbied for the funding.

Ms Jones said: "From a personal point of view, it puts our minds at rest every time it rains. Hopefully we can start moving forward.

"We are pleased. I just hope we see it through to completion.

"Communities should not have to fight for things like this. It is a human right to feel safe in your home.

"We still need to work with other communities because there are still areas like Stoneclough that have not got anything yet."