Somerset Council has secured £9.6m of Government funding to deliver phosphate mitigation measures in the county.

The news was warmly welcomed by Liberal Democrat MP for Somerton and Frome, Sarah Dyke, who's been championing this cause.

Ms Dyke said: "Somerset Council has been at the forefront of developing nature-based solutions alongside innovative technology to deal with nutrient neutrality.

"Securing this funding is an acknowledgement of that hard work.

"I'm pleased that Somerset Council will now be able to make progress on the backlog of housing applications and that the construction of much needed houses can go ahead, whilst ensuring we protect the environment."

The funding will allow the construction of 18,000 homes which were previously held up due to high phosphate levels in Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar site.

Ms Dyke had written twice to secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, Michael Gove, addressing the phosphate issue.

In August, she urged him to support the council's funding bid, and the subsequent month she emphasized the importance of housing development while maintaining nutrient neutrality.

The funding will be used by the council to widen their existing phosphate credit scheme.

Additionally, it will help in implementing both short-term and long-term phosphate mitigation measures including the introduction of an energy-efficient water processing technology.

This technology was earlier tested at the Fivehead Wastewater Treatment Works near Taunton.