HOMES in parts of York are now at greater risk from flooding than fire, the Environment Agency has warned.

Chairman Sir John Harman said people in high-risk areas, such as previously-hit parts of York and North Yorkshire, had to accept that flooding was the greatest threat to their property.

He said statistically fire had always been the biggest danger - but that had now changed as a result of climate change and wetter, stormier autumn and winter periods.

Floods Minister Elliot Morley warned that homes were still at risk of flooding this year - despite the hot, dry summer.

Sir John told the Westminster launch of this year's awareness campaign: "Our climate is changing, with wetter and stormier autumns and winters that have brought flooding and, with it, billions of pounds-worth of damage and incalculable heartache to many.

"Flooding is now a fact of life in this country - for many people it is a higher risk to their home than fire.

"Our response is clear. It is not sufficient to design, build and maintain traditional defences - our work must now focus clearly on managing risk and planning and limiting the damage from floods as far as is humanly possible."

Mr Morley said: "This has been the driest summer since 1995 and many of the river water levels have been quite low.

"It has also been a dry autumn as well - but nevertheless we could still have intensive downpours in very small areas and people could be affected by that."

Mr Morley and Sir John were jointly launching a publicity blitz for householders to prepare for the worst. Adverts are to be placed in pubs and shown on TV pointing out the range of products available to limit the effects of flooding.

These include flood guards and drain and pipe covers. The agency is determined to hammer home the message that advance planning can prevent thousands of pounds of damage.

According to Sir John, awareness among residents of flood-risk areas increased from 52 per cent to 72 per cent last year.

But he said: "The bad news is still too few of these had thought about using that awareness."

The campaign received a York launch at the flood-prone Kings Arms in Kings Staith yesterday.

The Kings Arms was selected as one of 20 pubs in the North-East to feature the advertising as the business floods so regularly. Landlord Mike Hartley has even prepared his own flood plan to protect the pub.

Updated: 11:06 Wednesday, October 15, 2003