INTENSE bouts of flooding are set to become more frequent, the Environment Agency has warned.

The warning follows a pattern of severe flooding over the past 10 years, linked to an increase in extreme weather events as the country’s climate changes.

Winter 2015 brought widespread flooding to 17,000 properties across the north of England with homes in Bolton and Bury being affected.

Now the agency has today launched its Flood Action Campaign targeting younger people through social media and online advertising to encourage them to check their flood risk at GOV.UK, sign up for free warnings and be prepared .