Free phone flood warnings

A House in Brougham in Cumbria after a river burst its banks, as forecasters warn that the downpour is set to continue in northern England, north-west Wales and western Scotland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday November 19, 2009. See PA story WEATHER Storm. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

EE customers registered in flood risk areas in Lancashire and Cumbria will receive messages from the Environment Agency’s Floodline Warnings Direct service, giving people valuable time to prepare.

The scheme is the first of its kind in England and follows a successful pilot in Staffordshire in March this year.

Since 2010, the Floodline Warnings Direct service has enabled the Environment Agency to automatically register and send warnings to 600,000 homes and business landline numbers, but this will be the first time that flood warnings will be issued directly through a mobile phone provider.

Jason Rees, EE’s Director of New Business, said: “This offers our customers a free and essential service.”