Homeowners are to be given better early warnings about potential flooding in vulnerable areas of Oxford.

The Environment Agency is embarking on a project to restructure its flood warning zones.

Previously, zones covered long stretches of the River Thames and other major rivers.

But the new zones are smaller and more specific. For example, Oxford was previously included in the stretch of the Thames from Eynsham, in the north, to Sandford, in the south.

Now the city will be broken into five new zones — Botley, Wolvercote, Binsey and Osney, Kennington and Sandford and Radley — and a flood warning will be issued to each zone only if they are likely to flood.

The Thames flowing from Buscot to King's Lock and from Abingdon to Little Wittenham and Steventon also has new flood warning zones.

Emma Hoyle, EA flood incident manager for Oxfordshire, said: "It's a national project and we hope to have new zones mapped out across the Thames region by Christmas next year, although the timetable is susceptible to change.

"The idea is that warnings are only issued to the people we think will flood. It's a much more targeted, accurate approach, and people won't be worried unnecessarily.

"I'm sure we will have some teething problems along the way, but we are moving in the right direction."

The EA has leafleted homeowners in the new flood zones already signed up to Floodline Warnings Direct — the agency's free flood warning service — to inform them of the changes.

More than a third of the 42,000 homes deemed at risk of flooding in the Thames region's West Area, which stretches from Cirencester to Banbury and Henley, have already joined the service.

William Bowell, whose house in Bridge Street, Osney Island, Oxford, was flooded in July last year, welcomed the EA's targeted approach.

The 74-year-old and his wife only moved back home three months ago.

He said: "We have been living here for 47 years and we never had flooding in our home until last July.

"Anything that makes the flood warnings more accurate has to be a good thing — it's most definitely beneficial."

Residents who have not signed up and want to receive flood warnings by phone, text, fax or email, should call 0845 988 1188.