The Environment Agency has come up with a new answer to flooding – unwanted Christmas trees.

Unwanted conifers are being used as flood defences and to protect wildlife in rivers.

Placed along river banks, coniferous trees also reduce erosion and create the perfect habitat for fish, the Environment Agency said.

The tree trunks stabilise the river bank whilst the conifers act as a filter and catch silt from the water. This removes sediment which would otherwise smother fish eggs, preventing them from hatching.

They have already been used on the banks of the River Bollin in Cheshire, which are particularly sandy and easily eroded, and have been successfully trialled in the Rivers Derwent, Glenderamackin and Marron in Cumbria.

Mike Farrell, fisheries officer at the Environment Agency, said: "We hope this innovative use of Christmas trees will have great potential for reducing flood risk.

"One in six properties in England and Wales is at risk of flooding so we are urging everyone to find out if they are at risk by visiting the Environment Agency website."