ENVIRONMENT Agency bosses have changed how they warn of flooding because some people were not taking any notice.

In the past, the Flood Watch warning only told residents to expect flooding on low-lying land and roads.

It has now been replaced by a Flood Alert, warning that flooding is possible and advising residents in vulnerable areas to be prepared, and what measures they should take.

The agency hopes more people will take notice.

Residents can now check local river levels on the agency’s website and it will also provide a daily, three-day flood forecast for England and Wales.

Large parts of Oxfordshire were submerged in 2007 and the change is a response to the Government’s Pitt Review on how communities can be better prepared.

Kate Vincent, flood incident manager for the Thames region west area, said “We have updated our flood alerts because people didn’t take much notice of the Flood Watch warning and would wait until there was a severe flood warning before they would take any action.

“We want people to start preparing earlier for flooding.

“There are 18,000 properties in Oxfordshire which are considered to be at risk of flooding because they are in the flood plain and only a third have registered for our flood warning service.”

South Hinksey resident Peter Rawcliffe, a spokesman for the Oxford Flood Alliance, welcomed the move.

He said: “We can see the water coming slowly across the field so we don’t really need this warning service, but in lots of different locations it could be invaluable.”

See environment-agency. gov.uk or call 08459 881188 to register for the free flood warning service