A controversial plan to build a dam in Dinas Powys to protect homes from flooding has been stopped after a long period of campaigning from local residents.

It would have seen a 350 square metre dam built at the loss of the nearby Cwm George and Casehill woods.

Protests were staged and local residents rallied together against the proposals.

To find out more about the details of the project you can click here.

The Chair of Natural Resources Wales, Sir David Henshaw, said: ''When we consider the marginal case for this option, it is therefore clear that we will not be pursuing an upstream storage scheme."

Chairman of the campaign group, Save Dinas Powys Woods, Dr Peter Smith said: "We welcome the announcement that NRW will not develop a dam in the beautiful Dinas Powys Woods.

''Local people recognise the flood risk in the village, but are overwhelmingly in favour of a natural flood management programme (NFM) in the Cadoxton River and Eastbrook catchments, plus improved channel maintenance and if required local hard defences, rather than an environmentally unfriendly dam. We call this NFM+.

"Our proposals will slow the flow of the rivers upstream thus reducing the risk of flash flooding, and by removing obstacles improve flow downstream.

"We now look forward to working with Natural Resources Wales and The Woodland Trust to design an effective NFM scheme.

"Both have expertise in this area, and, having made funds available for NFM projects, we know that the Welsh Government is keen for Wales to become an exemplar of good practice.

"Community involvement and support will remain key features of our Campaign.

"We are grateful to people far and wide who have supported our campaign, including the Woodland Trust, our local Community Councils, and County Councillors. We extend our particular thanks to our local Assembly Member, Jane Hutt, for her advocacy and support."

Jane Hutt said: ''I welcome the positive response to my meeting with Chair of NRW Sir David Henshaw on 19th May with the news confirmed on 22nd May that NRW will not progress an upstream flood storage option to manage flood risk to Dinas Powys at this time.

''Following our meeting on 19th May Sir David Henshaw Chair of NRW wrote to me on 22nd May to say that NRW received almost 400 responses to our consultation on the Outline Business Case with the vast majority being opposed to the upstream storage option on the Cadoxton Brook."

Anthony Slaughter, Penarth resident and Leader of the Green Party in Wales, congratulated campaigners on their work and said it had been "an inspiring example of inclusive grassroots community campaigning."