Esh is main contractor on the Cottingham and Orchard Park Alleviation Scheme to build a series of lagoons to protect local residents from flooding.

But bad weather stopped work on site late last year and council chiefs have now confirmed construction cannot restart until next month at the earliest.

A spokesman for East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: “Due to the very wet weather we have experienced since October and November 2019, the council has agreed with the contractor to postpone the construction work on phase two of the Cottingham and Orchard Park Alleviation Scheme.

“The wet weather has caused the land to become completely sodden and currently the water table remains very high in the Cottingham area, and due to the size of the construction equipment required we are unable to continue the construction works until the ground dries up.

“We hope our contractors will be back on site in April with a view to completing the scheme in early autumn this year.

“Phase one of the scheme in Orchard Park has been working extremely well in preventing flooding, and despite phase two not yet being complete, it has still been holding water back from residential areas.”