People living and working in flood risk areas have been warned it is their responsibility to stock up with sandbags.

The message has been issued by West Sussex County Council's emergency planning chief, John Williams.

His department has made it clear people must take action to protect themselves this winter.

Mr Williams said: "Many people believe that in a period of likely flooding the local authority will make sandbags available to everyone, and this would clearly be impossible.

"Just as smoke and burglar alarms are the responsibility of householders or businesses, so is the provision of sandbags to protect property against potential flooding."

Mr Williams said sandbag requests from householders would be assessed and considered only when occupied homes were in imminent danger.

He said they could not be provided to protect gardens and outbuildings.

Mr Williams said all local authorities in West Sussex had now drawn up a "sandbag protocol" which included maintaining a stockpile in case of immediate and medium term emergency need.

Details of the policy are to be made available at public libraries throughout West Sussex.