RESIDENTS are being warned about the dangers of flooding to lives, homes and businesses.

It is just three weeks since widespread flooding caused chaos across East Lancashire, with homes and roads in Clitheroe, Darwen, Pendle and Rossendale badly affected by the rising water.

Now, the Environment Agency has launched a new campaign to highlight the dangers of floods and to provide information to help people at risk protect themselves and their property.

And a new telephone information service for the public, Floodline 0845 988 1188, is being launched today, so that callers can get advice and find out about flood warnings.

About 1.3million homes and businesses in England and Wales are at risk from flooding - about 60,000 of them in the North West. For those property owners, the chance of being flooded is greater than the risk of fire, but research has shown that only five per cent of people in flood risk areas take the threat seriously enough to prepare for what can be devastating damage and loss.

Jeff Lawrenson, the Environment Agency's North West Regional Flood Defence Manager, said: "By providing householders with better information and advice, we can help give them a greater chance of coping with the responsibility of protecting their homes from flooding.

"People can take simple actions to help minimise long-term effects of a flood, such as taking out adequate insurance, protecting vital documents, clearly marking where gas and electricity power switches need to be turned off, preparing family flood plans and moving valuable items out of the reach of flood water."

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