More than 600 tonnes of leaves are set to be cleared from local streets as the council steps up efforts to prevent blocked drains and flooding.

Dedicated teams will be out across Chester this autumn and winter, using mechanical and manual sweepers to clear roads, footpaths and other public spaces.

Priority will be given to streets with large numbers of mature trees, areas where wet leaves have built up and become compacted, and locations already identified as flood-risk hotspots.

Beyond keeping the street's tidy, fallen leaves can quickly clog road drains and gullies - increasing the risk of standing water and localised flooding, particularly during heavy rain.

Cheshire West and Chester Council's highways service maintains around 85,000 highway gullies across the borough, with additional drainage work taking place during autumn to keep water flowing freely.

Residents may also spot some unusual names among the council's fleet of street sweepers, including the aptly named Leafborghini and Taylor Sweep.

Councillor Stuart Bingham said: "Our teams work hard throughout the season to keep roads and pavements clear, make journeys safer and help prevent drainage problems caused by fallen leaves.

"Heavy leaf fall can happen very quickly, particularly after windy weather, and we would ask residents to take extra care when walking on wet or compacted leaves.

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"We also appreciate the support we receive from residents and community groups.

"By working together and taking simple steps such as clearing leaves from road gullies where it is safe to do so, we can help reduce the risk of standing water and localised flooding."

Residents are being encouraged to remove leaves covering road gullies and highway drains where it is safe to do so.

However, the council has warned against blowing or sweeping leaves onto roads, pavements or other parts of the public highway, as this can create hazards and cause further drain blockages.