A nine-tonne flood gate has successfully been installed at Hilden, near Lisburn, as part of refurbishment works costing £1 million at the Hilden River control structure, Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced.

The refurbished gate's installation will improve flood protection for areas of South Belfast, as Minister Kimmins explained: "At ten metres wide and weighing almost nine tonnes, this structure will perform a key role in regulating water levels on the River Lagan, particularly at times of heavy rainfall. The refurbishment work will also improve the operation and safety of these control structures and is essential to help manage flood risk for the people of South Belfast."

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The Minister added: "Adapting to climate is one of my Department's seven Foundations for a Better Future. While we cannot prevent all flooding from happening, we can reduce the impacts with appropriate infrastructure improvements and development. Schemes like this are a tangible way of delivering on that vision."