People in Oxfordshire who live in areas prone to flooding are to be offered an affordable text messaging service to help them stay dry.

The service will provide them with up-to-the-minute news and warnings at times when water levels are high.

In January, the homes of people living in areas off Botley Road and Abingdon Road, Oxford, were flooded.

The county council has become the first authority to sign up to the City Alerts Texting System (Cats).

Mobile phone users will receive specific warnings direct from all the emergency services for a one-off charge of £1.50 a year when there is any emergency, including rising flood waters, in their postcode area.

The new system will be officially launched at the county council's emergency planning unit headquarters at Woodeaton on June 3 at 10am.

Thames Valley Police and the John Radcliffe Hospital are also considering becoming involved in the new service.

John Kelly, the emergency planning officer for the county council, said: "We have been looking for some time to find an easy system for alerting the public to major incidents and the Cats system uses modern technology to ensure an alert message to those who have registered.

"The cost to the public for each postcode registered is modest. The system will apply to any potential emergency, not just flooding."

John Farrow, the executive ember for community safety, said: "I urge people in Oxfordshire to join this system, particularly if they have concerns over flooding or any potential hazardous site in their areas."