ELDERLY people living in flood-hit areas of Middlesbrough could be placed on priority lists under emergency evacuation plans.

Councillors will today discuss proposals to put elderly people on a list so emergency evacuations can be prioritised in future.

The register will mean Middlesbrough Council will know who will be at risk when heavy rain falls and parts of the town get flooded.

It forms part of a strategy to reduce the impact floods have on people and property.

In July, more than 40 properties in Middlesbrough were flooded following short periods of heavy rain. In November 2000, the town, along with parts of North Yorkshire, suffered the highest levels of rainfall in a generation.

A council spokesman said: "During these freak weather conditions, Middlesbrough, like other towns and cities, was caught out.

"Mercifully, the damage was not as bad but we are conscious of the fact that some homes were flooded and it was extremely distressing for the people it affected.

"We have commissioned this in-depth report from the scrutiny panel so we can co-ordinate our contingency plans with other agencies the next time we get a heavy downfall."

The prospective measures were welcomed by Dave Punshon, chief executive of Age Concern in Middlesbrough.

He said: "If something terrible did occur, it would be pointless saying 'we did not know this could have happened', so it is only sensible we look for potential hazards.

"Forward planning prevents problems and this will be especially necessary for residents who have become housebound."

The report also recommends the council reviews its policy on other measures, such as providing sandbags.

Officers investigating also want to see that all watercourses are maintained properly to prevent blockages.

Part of the problem is caused by abandoned shopping trolleys that get clogged up with litter and create dams of rubbish in the waterways.

Supermarkets near rivers are to be lobbied to encourage them to prevent trolleys being stolen and dumped.