New flow of information

A new flood awareness campaign, using advertisements on double-decker buses, has been launched by the Environment Agency. With the warning that floods can be devastating both emotionally and financially, the agency is encouraging people in flood risk area

A new flood awareness campaign, using advertisements on double-decker buses, has been launched by the Environment Agency.

With the warning that floods can be devastating both emotionally and financially, the agency is encouraging people in flood risk areas to contact their floodline service before the weather gets worse.

Buses with routes through Huntingdon, St Ives and Cambridge are being used to advertise the agency's flood helpline telephone number.

Steve Taylor, from the Environment Agency, said: "We want people to see the ads and take action to find out if they live or have their business in a flood risk area.

"Some five million people in the UK are affected. Time spent preparing a simple flood plan can make a flood easier and faster to recover from."

* Paul Woodcock, Environment Agency Anglian regional director, and Robert Price, chairman of the regional flood defence committee, with the bus ad.