Hundreds of thousands of trees are to be planted on moorland to try and reduce the risk of flooding in part of West Yorkshire. 

The Calder Valley in Halifax was one of the worst hit in the county during severe flooding in December 2015.

Now Yorkshire Water is to plant up to 200,000 trees on moorland above Gorpley reservoir between Todmorden and Bacup over ten years.

And the reason is that trees help reduce the flow of water running off moorland into the valley.

Yorkshire Water said the scheme would help protect communities in the area including Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd.

Conservative MP for the Calder Valley Craig Whittaker: "In regards to flood management this is one project of many that will add up to the greatest sum that will reduce flooding.

"We have a plan that goes from the top of the moorlands to the river bottom."

Yorkshire Water said it had identified 60 hectares of "species-poor grassland" on land it owns which could be planted with trees.

Around 3,000 trees will be planted per hectare.

Other measures planned include:

* Creating new wetland areas.

* Strengthening river banks to reduce soil erosion.

* 43 hectares of blanket bog will be improved by restoring peat land with sphagnum moss, which absorbs and slows down rain water run-off.

* Building leaky dams on small watercourses, which prevent soil and silt escaping and slow water down.