CHORLEY'S flood risk households are being urged to be prepared for the worst.

The Environment Agency's Flood Action Week with the message"Flooding. You can't prevent it. You can prepare for it" was launched on Monday.

One of Chorley's flooding blackspots is Croston where there have been numerous incidents over the decades.

For example, in February, 1966, 100 houses and shops were flooded on the A581 Croston-Chorley road and in October, 1980, a large area of agricultural land and property were flooded to a depth of about 30 cms.

In addition, in December 1983, a field and properties were flooded from a tributary of the River Lostock and in August 1987 flood waters escaping upstream from improvement works hit 205 homes and businesses.

Some 360 properties are at risk from flooding in Croston, said the Environment Agency, despite the Croston Walls flood defence scheme being reconstructed in 1930, with further work carried out in the 70s. In 1990, the left bank of the river was reconstructed.

Around 165,000 people live in flood risk areas in the North West, but on average only one person in 20 takes the threat of flooding seriously enough to prepare even a few simple steps, added the agency.

Liz Anspoks, the Environment Agency's regional flood warning manager, said: "We can't tame nature and floods will happen.

"The damage in financial terms is staggering, but the emotional cost to victims of a flood is often immeasurable.

"You cannot put a price on the loss of wedding albums, family photos and the hours that go into making a house into a home -- all that can be destroyed in a few moments by a flood.

"But there are many simple actions that can be taken to prepare for a flood.

"Take out adequate insurance, protect vital documents, clearly mark gas and electricity supply switches which may need to be turned off, prepare your own flood action plan of what to do if flooding is imminent."

The old colour coded warning system is also be replaced by four new stages : Flood Watch; Flood Warning; Severe Flood Warning and All Clear.

The agency's Floodline -- 0845 988 1188 -- is available to check whether your property is at risk and for local warning arrangements in your area.