RISING river levels in Bradford on Avon has prompted Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Services to install flood defences this evening (Sunday) as a precaution.

Barriers were put in place by 7pm in the Bull Pit by more than 20 helper, including firefighters, environment agency, local authority workers and Wiltshire Police to deal with road traffic control.

The flood safeguard is expected not be needed for the time being and a repeat case of the floods on Christmas Eve 2013 are not expected.

Trowbridge Fire Station manager Andy Green said: "At the moment it is all in place. So far we haven’t needed it as the river isn’t high enough. If we get another 10cm rise, you’ll find that the barriers will hold it back.

"Should we get a significant rise we will bring a fire engine out and set a pump in and we will pump the water that comes underneath back over the top and circulate it.

"We will be on call all night and ready to go if we are needed."

Mr Green said the rising river levels were identified at 10am this morning. The flood defence kit was transported from Bristol to the scene, which took two hours to be set up.

"Historically this area has a real problem of flooding. We’ve had the barriers in place before and we thought the best thing to do was put them in place before we really need them," said Mr Green.

"We had a conference with the environment agency and after discussing the matter we decided to put them in place. 

“It has been a very good effort from the team. What we’ve done is put all this equipment in place without the threat of the floods engulfing the place before we finish. We call it being ahead of the curve." 

The defences should be kept in place until Wednesday, with peak levels projected for Tuesday.