New flood defences are to be deployed on Oxford's Osney Island to protect 75 vulnerable properties.

Barriers made of galvanised steel will be set up at strategic locations on the island during times of flood risk.

The £150,000 defences will be stored at the Environment Agency's (EA) Osney Mead depot and be available from May onwards.

Richard Thurston, chairman of the Osney Island Residents' Association, who lives in West Street, said: "These are the Rolls-Royce of flood protection measures - I hope the residents will feel more secure.

"They are probably a bit of a pain to store and quite labour intensive to put up, but they do a very good job.

"Nobody likes the idea of having floodwater going through their home. If these are a way to prevent that, then it's fantastic. Roll on May!"

Following a Europe-wide search for demountable defences, the EA announced that it had awarded a contract to Geodesign Barriers Ltd.

The panel-style defences will be placed in three separate sections along parts of East Street, West Street and South Street.

The total length of the defences will be about 270 metres and they will be combined with pumps.

When in use they form an angled barrier, covered by metal panels and a reinforced plastic membrane. The barriers can fold flat for storage.

EA staff will be trained in deploying the barriers with an action plan drawn up to maximise their effectiveness.

Osney Island was badly hit by the floods last July and only narrowly missed a second serious flooding in January.

The barriers are already used in Shrewsbury, Ironbridge, Bewdley, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcester, Yorkshire and Hampshire.

Several electrical companies also use the system.

Rob Alexander, a flood risk engineer at the EA, said: "These flood defences are just one of a number of solutions which we are looking at to reduce the impact of flooding in Oxford.

"Since the flooding in July last year we have been working hard with residents, local councils and the emergency services to find suitable short-term solutions for some of the properties at risk of flooding in Oxford."

He said the EA will be looking at introducing short-term measures, including barriers, in other parts of the city.