Visitors at Stoke Goldington are pictured taking a close look at Watery Heights.

8 October 2008

A doll’s house called Watery Heights is being used to help illustrate some of the precautions people can take to prevent flood damage to their homes.

It was one of six donated to Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service’s community safety team in Milton Keynes following an appeal on BBC Three Counties Radio.

The doll’s house forms part of the touring Thames Valley Flood Awareness Month display organised by Milton Keynes Council, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, Thames Valley Police, the Environment Agency and the National Flood Forum.

Partnership Manager David Ridley said: “Watery Heights is helping us demonstrate a number of safety messages and flood protection measures to the public. It’s proving a hit with the children and many of the adults too!”

The doll’s house was used in displays at Stoke Goldington and Stony Stratford on Monday and Tuesday. It will be at Heronsgate School Hall in Walnut Tree from 3.30pm to 7.30pm today and at Newport Pagnell Fire Station, Wolverton Road, Newport Pagnell, from 10am to 7.30pm on Friday.

The miniature house draws attention to:

• The availability of sandbags, plastic covers for air bricks and flood boards for doors and windows
  
  
• The need for householders to think in advance about what they would do in the event of a flood, and to be aware of flood warning codes
  
  
• Precautions such as moving valuables and furniture upstairs, removing carpets and raising furniture on blocks

To find out if you are at risk from flooding, visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodline or call Floodline on 0845 988 1188. BT calls cost up to 4p a minute, plus a 6p set-up fee from your home.

Click here for more information about Thames Valley Flood Awareness Month.