Thousands of properties added to FWD service

Thousands of properties across South Yorkshire have been added to the Environment Agency's Floodline Warnings Direct (FWD) service.

The number of properties eligible to take part in the scheme has increased fivefold since major flooding hit the UK in June 2007.

FWD is now available to more than 23,000 properties. However, 52 per cent of homes have yet to sign up to the service.

Kim Tan, a spokesperson for the Environment Agency's Floodwise campaign, said it is important to get the message out that FWD is a free scheme.

"Once you're set up on FWD, then as soon as we get information that your property is at danger of flooding, the FWD system contacts you automatically by text, phone call or email," she added.

The flooding in 2007 resulted in 17,000 people requiring temporary accommodation and household insurance claims totalling more than £3 billion.

According to government figures, around 10,000 tonnes of silt and debris have been removed from rivers in the South Yorkshire area in the last two years.

Written by Lauren Steadman