Three months on from the devastating Cumbria floods, the Environment Agency has announced plans to double the number of homes and businesses that receive free flood warnings.

From the end of February, the organisation will start to issue flood warnings to an extra half a million properties with a landline at risk of river and sea flooding. The Environment Agency’s move to sign up automatically some 500,000 additional homes and businesses later this month will more than double the total registered from 430,000 to almost one million.

The extension of the organisation’s flood warning service was one of the key recommendations from the independent Pitt Review into the summer 2007 floods. The Environment Agency is also continuing to expand the number of areas in the country that are eligible for its free flood warning service.

Environment Agency Chairman Lord Chris Smith said: “Last November’s devastating events in Cumbria remind us of the dangers of flooding and how being prepared is crucial.

“One in six homes in England and Wales are at risk of flooding. We urge everyone to check whether their property is at risk by visiting the Environment Agency’s website and taking steps to prepare, such as looking at ways to make properties more resistant to floods.

“By automatically signing up an extra 500,000 homes and businesses, we will more than double the number on our system to almost one million, giving more people vital time to get prepared for flooding, and by doing so, protecting lives and property.”

The Environment Agency is sending letters out next week to all homes and businesses which are to be signed up. Subscribers can choose to opt out of the service but the Environment Agency is urging everyone to check its website for more information about preparing for the risk of flooding.