RESIDENTS near the banks of the River Usk, in Caerleon, will discover tonight whether temporary flood defences will be enough to protect their homes.

Anxious locals are concerned tonight's high tide, expected at 10pm, will be too much for the flood defence wall - damaged in the last flooding to hit the area - exposing 60 homes in Isca Road to the risk of flooding.

Homes escaped flooding in last night's high tides and temporary measures have been put in place by the Environment Agency for Wales while it and Newport council finalise a project to permanently protect the area from floods.

But Lin Gray, of the Isca Road Residents Association, said locals were worried the emergency measures would not be enough.

Mrs Gray said: "We've already got sandbags and people from the Environment Agency will be coming here with extra. We've just got to watch it and see.

"I hope it's not going to flood. If it does there will be a hell of a mess because raw sewage goes in there."

She said a 15 metre section of the wall collapsed during heavy rain last month and slipped down the riverbank taking part of Isca Road with it.

Now residents are concerned tonight's high tide will bring down the remaining piece of wall. An even higher tide is expected on Wednesday September 19.

A spokesman for the Environment agency said: "Environment Agency Wales are seeking to develop a scheme at Isca Road, Caerleon, in conjunction with Newport county borough council, as it would involve both flood defence and highway maintenance improvements.

"The Agency is fully aware of the concerns of residents in the area and are taking steps to prepare for the expected high tide this evening.

"Our flood defence team will be on site to monitor the situation and take any remedial action that may be necessary to reinforce the sandbagged wall.

"The Agency has drawn attention to the situation at Isca Road for a number of years now." Mrs Gray said she hoped the proposed scheme for Isca Road would mean an end to their days of "monitoring and consultation" and that they would see evidence of an early start to the scheme soon.