Millions of pounds will be spent on much-needed improvements to Somerset flood defences over the next 12 months.

The Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) has committed to spending more than £860M across the UK to protect homes and businesses from flooding.

A large number of Somerset schemes will benefit from this, ranging from a £4M project at Blue Anchor to smaller improvements to pumping stations and weirs on the Levels and Moors.

The announcement follows flash floods in Chard and Yeovil, which saw significant damage to residential properties as well as the local road and rail network.

These are the schemes in Somerset which will enjoy a slice of the £860M over the next 12 months:

:Coastal protection scheme at Blue Anchor – up to £4.2M

:Safety improvements to the South Perrott Reservoir near Crewkerne – £1.01M

:Replacement of pumps at Huish pumping station near Langport – £874,085

:Storage improvements to the Curry Moor flood storage reservoir in East Lyng- £694,742

:Replacement of pumps at Northmoor pumping station near Curry Rivel – £232,078

:Safety improvements to the Southlake Reservoir near Othery – £152,000

:Cannington river flooding prevention scheme – £66,000

:Improvements to the River Parrett at Cannington bends – £5,000

In addition to these schemes, the government is bringing in tighter planning guidance for local authorities to prevent new developments from exacerbating flooding.

The reforms will also include improvements to flood insurance, allowing households to claim additional money to install flood resilience measures such as air brick covers, flood doors and flood-resistant paint.

David Warburton MP, whose Somerton and Frome constituency was badly affected by the 2013/14 floods, has welcomed the extra investment.

He said: "Flooding devastates communities, as we have seen to our great cost across the Somerset Levels in very recent times.

"So many homes and families in Somerset have fallen victim to this, and it is crucial that we continue to add to the armoury of protection, in order properly to tackle it and manage our environment, our businesses and homes.

"Boosting the design and construction of flood alleviation schemes, while also putting the necessary measures in place to protect homes from flooding and coastal erosion will help to guard homes and families from the devastating impact of flooding, and will allow people to feel reassured about the safety of their home and their livelihoods."

The government has committed to spending £5.2bn on improving flood defences across Britain by March 2027, protecting 336,000 homes as well as a large number of businesses and farms.

A public consultation on how to protect communities frequently affected by flooding will be launched by Defra in the autumn, which will help to inform how the remaining funding will be allocated between 2022 and 2027.

Environment secretary George Eustace MP said: "The tragic recent events in Germany and Belgium serve as a sobering reminder of how devastating flooding can be.

"We are standing by communities and will bolster defences against flooding across England with many thousands more properties better protected by 2027.

"It's important we take action right across the system. Our comprehensive plan will achieve this by tightening planning procedures, helping more people access insurance and making homes more resilient to flooding."