A CAMPAIGN is to be launched to show people how to protect themselves from the worst impacts of flooding.

Homes in West Auckland and South Church, County Dur-ham, were devastated by the floods that swept through the area at the beginning of June.

But the Environment Agen-cy hopes to minimise damage if another tragedy occurs by making people aware of steps they can take to prepare for flooding and introducing a new warning system.

Flood Action Week runs from September 11 to September 17 and is the second annual campaign to alert people to the risk of flooding in England and Wales.

The week will coincide with the introduction of new flood warning codes.

Many people have found the existing yellow, red and amber warnings confusing and they are soon to be replaced by simpler warning codes.

The new system will have four stages, from "flood watch" to "flood warning" to "severe flood warning" and then "all clear" when the danger is over.

The leader of Wear Valley District Council, Councillor Olive Brown, said: "People are totally disillusioned with the way the flooding happened and anything will be an improvement. I think the simpler the system the better. I just hope it never has to be used."

The agency's floodline telephone information service is 0845 988 1188.