RESIDENTS in Chester-le-Street will be able to find out about emergencies such as flooding at a special event.

The town centre and outlying areas including Waldridge have a history of flooding and some villages on higher ground can endure heavy snowfall.

The Chester-le-Street District Area Action Partnership (AAP) is holding a drop-in session about emergency planning.

It will be in the Cornerstone Community Centre, next to Chester-le-Street Methodist Church, in North Burns, on Wednesday (May 1) between 3 and 7pm.

Durham County Council’s Civil Contingencies Unit, the town’s business association, resident groups and the emergency services will be in volved in the event.

It will highlight what the emergency services do in disaster situations and offer help and advice to visitors.

The organisers of the drop-in hope to involve members of the community in the Part of the event will also see the organisations working with the public in the development of community resilience plans, which will help them better respond to floods and other local emergencies.

Derek Briggs, chairman of the town’s Central Residents Association, said: “We know the town has suffered terribly in the past. I’ve experienced it first hand and on ‘Thunder Thursday’ back in 2012, I found myself trying to stem the flow of water pouring into the back of Chester-le-Street Library because of the unprecedented amount of rain.

“We recognise members of the community have had varying experiences of floods and other natural disasters and emergencies and we are keen to help people feel more informed and be aware of the support available.”

For more information on the event email: chester-le-streetaap@durham.gov.uk or call 03000 266146. .