FLOOD defences for Derby's city centre, which would affect 3,600 properties, have been outlined in detail for the first time.

Defence walls, flood gates and buildings which will act as barriers to rising water levels are all proposed in the draft flood risk master plan for the Lower Derwent area published today.

It has been put together by Derby City Council and the Environment Agency in case of a significant flood which could swamp parts of the city centre.

Such a major flood is only likely to hit once in every 100 years but the council said it needs to start planning for it now.

Councillor Matthew Holmes, cabinet member for planning and the environment, said: "We need to protect our communities and local businesses from flooding in the future and this cannot be left to future generations to resolve."

A six-week consultation into the plan starts today.

To avoid towering flood walls along the riverside, developers could be urged to create buildings which have defences within them.

But in other areas there may still be a need for walls reaching 2.7 metres high and flood gates.