LOCALS with knowledge of the River Derwent are being invited to join a team of academics conducting a study on flooding.

The academics from Oxford, Durham and Newcastle universities are embarking on a one-year project looking at what causes flooding and how this can be tackled.

The Flood Research Group will meet regularly between September 2007 and July 2008 and if you would like to be involved in the project, send a short letter to: Sue Bradley, Centre for Rural Economy, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE1 7RU or email susan.bradley@ncl.ac.uk or telephone 0191 222 8506. The closing date will be July 6.