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Youngsters Help Plan for Flooding.

Children across Teesside have been using their creativity to highlight the risks from flooding.

The youngsters from Berwick Hills Primary in Middlesbrough, Belmont Primary in Guisborough, and Eldon Grove Primary in Hartlepool have done flood themed artwork for a calendar to increase public awareness of flood risk. The best pieces of artwork have been compiled into a calendar with important messages of how to respond to flooding.

The children's artwork is all about flooding, from people putting sandbags to interpretations of the Environment Agency's flood warning symbols.

The calendar includes important messages each month like how to turn electricity, gas and water off in a flood, where to find information on flood warnings, and tips like how to avoid increasing your flood risk.

Matthew Shepherd, Planning Officer with Cleveland Emergency Planning Unit, said: "The calendar is part of our joint working with the Environment Agency to warn people about the risks of flooding and bad weather.

"The images produced by the children are excellent and their involvment will help us to get these important messages and advice to local communities."

The work is funded by the Northumbria Regional Flood and Coastal Committee's Local Levy, which sees contributions from Local Authorities across the North East reinvested in small scale flood projects that otherwise would not be eligible for funding.

Richard Robinson, Environment Agency Flood Incident Management Team Leader, said: "We are always keen to engage with communities to encourage them to take action to respond to flooding. The work that the children have done is an excellent way to get the message across."

The calendar have been given to people at sure-start centres, family centres, doctors surgeries, libraries and schools throughout Cleveland. An electronic copy of the calendar can be found by clicking here or by visiting the documents page.

Anyone whose property is at risk of flooding is urged to prepare a flood plan. For advice, and to check whether your property is at risk, visit the Environment Agency's website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk. People can also check whether their home or business is at risk of flooding by calling Floodline on 0845 988 1188.

Above: The winning entrants from the 3 primary schools involved.

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