Residents in Oxfordshire are being warned they should be prepared to cope with flooding as 'extreme' weather could be on the way over the winter.

According to the Environment Agency, there is an increasing likelihood of severe weather causing disruption to homes, businesses and communities.

The EA's Operation Delivery teams have been working hard throughout the year to ensure the Thames Valley is prepared and ‘Winter Ready’.

Additional government funding announced earlier in the year has provided the Environment Agency with opportunities to reduce flood risk for vulnerable communities.

A number of key projects have been completed, including improving the way temporary defences are deployed, working with community groups, and ensuring Thames weirs are maintained and equipt to cope with the winter period.

Maria Herlihy, operations manager for the Environment Agency, said: "Having your house and community flood is a life-changing experience and last winter we saw the significant impacts of this across the UK.

“Over the summer months, our teams have been out in the communities working on various projects across the region in order to get ourselves ‘Winter Ready’ and to ensure that everything is in place to protect communities at risk of flooding.

“The next few winter months are crucial for us. The recently published National Flood Resilience Review showed that even more extreme weather than last winter is possible and we all need to be prepared.”

One major project for Oxfordshire has been the ‘Supporting Communities Remaining at Risk of Flooding’ scheme.

This initiative has helped the Environment Agency improve the way it deploys temporary defences and to protect communities that do not currently have a permanent flood defence.

Temporary defences include pumps, barriers and other equipment that reduce risk of flooding to homes and businesses, minimising risk to life and reducing costly clean-up operations.

Partnership work has also been a focal point for the Operations Delivery Team.

Throughout the summer months teams of Operations Delivery staff have been working with the Army at Dalton Barracks in Abingdon to ensure new stocks of temporary flood barriers are safely stored and ready to be used.

As well as having their own Thames area stock of 2-3km of temporary flood barriers, the EA has 40km of barriers stored at a number of strategic depots ready for deployment anywhere in England.

Ms Herlihy added: "To have the capability to deploy 40km of flood barriers anywhere in the country at very short notice requires strong logistics support.

"We have recently secured a contract with haulage company Eddie Stobart to provide enhanced logistics - ensuring our flood barriers are transported quickly, safely and efficiently to areas at risk."

Over 30 Temporary Defence Deployment Plans have been developed over the summer right across the Thames area to target communities at greatest risk.

Ms Herlihy said: "We all have a role to play in keeping our homes, families, and communities safe.

"I urge all members of the public to be 'Winter Ready' and ensure they have checked their flood risk, signed up to our flood alerts and made a flood plan."

For further information visit environment-agency.gov.uk