RESIDENTS will know when to baton down the hatches against flooding thanks to a new warning scheme.

Water Street in Earby was left under water in August 2004 when both houses and shops were flooded.

After the sudden deluge, residents launched a campaign to get more warning about future incidents from the Environment Agency.

And starting this month, the agency is offering a free service to those at risk of flooding around Earby Beck.

Residents will be contacted by phone or fax with flood warnings for the area.

But those interested have to sign up to the scheme.

Pat Spenceley, of Water Street, who set up Earby's flood group after the 2004 deluge, urged everyone in the area to sign up to the new scheme.

She said: "This service costs a lot of money to run so if we don't use it, we will lose it.

"At the flood group we do everything we can but we can't give everyone a warning.

"People will be much more likely to be prepared in time if they sign up for this.

"Some people have been worried that if they add their details the information will go to their insurance companies and they will find themselves having to pay a lot more, but nothing will be passed on, and in fact this is an extra insurance against the water.

"We can't stop floods but we can do our best to minimise the damage.

"If we wait for the water to start rising in the street it's too late - because of the lay of the land in Earby, water can come down from the fells to the bottom of Water Street in less than 10 minutes."

To find out more about the service, visit the Environment Agency's flooding website, at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodline.