VOLUNTEERS, town councillors and staff from Teignmouth port have begun vital emergency training to use the town's new flood defences.

Staff from the Environment Agency started the training sessions on Wednesday, demonstrating how to use the flood gates on the scheme designed to protect the back beach and town centre areas.

Training follows completion of the £3.5 million project to defend the town from flooding.

The volunteer flood wardens were trained how to operate the gates during the mock flood warning exercise, enabling them to familiarise themselves with the equipment and procedures.