ILMINSTER Town Council is on the lookout for people to volunteer as resilience wardens to help respond to flooding and "other problems" affecting residents.

Homes and businesses in Chard and Ilminster were affected by flooding in the town last year during spells of heavy rainfall amid Met Office yellow weather warnings. 

In October, fire crews were called to rescue 10 elderly residents from Holway House Park in Station Road due to severe flooding. 

A month later, Somerset County Council said there was a need to look for a long-term solution to the problem, and the mayor of Chard put a motion to the town council to set up a flood resilience group. 

Now, Ilminster Town Council is looking for volunteers to join the town's resilience groups to help communities in areas badly affected by flooding and other incidents. 

The council has been working for several months to create resilience groups and held a meeting on February 28 to recruit some members, but more are still required.

Chard & Ilminster News: The resilience groups will respond to events "such as flooding and other problems".The resilience groups will respond to events "such as flooding and other problems".  

In the town council's March news update, a spokesperson said: "Over the past few months, officers have been working to try to create groups in Ilminster that will be able to respond to events such as flooding and other problems.

"Initially, these groups will be centred on the Station Road area and Ditton Street where flooding has badly affected the community in these areas.

"In order for this to work effectively, it will be helpful to have more people willing to volunteer as Resilience Wardens.

"If you feel that you could help, please contact the town council and we can give more information on what is involved.

"Training and support will be provided, as well as equipment to help communities that are being threatened by a variety of occurrences."

The March news update also described the council's purchase of nine new benches, two rubbish bins, fifty planters, new goal posts, new signs, and an outdoor table tennis table with money made available by the Welcome Back Fund. 

It also said that a new youth shelter will also be erected in the town's recreation ground with funding from South Somerset District Council and money raised from building developments in Ilminster.