Oxfordshire County Council is trying to encourage more people to sign up to their CATS (City Alert Texting System) emergency text messaging system.

The service, which sends out warnings covering a range of emergencies, was set up last year.

The authority wants people, especially those living in areas at risk of floods, to sign up before winter.

The the first 500 people to join will not be charged, otherwise new members will have to pay a fee of �1.50.

Cllr John Farrow said: "Oxfordshire County Council was the first council to introduce this text messaging system.

"I hope our present free offer will encourage people to sign up before any winter bad weather.

"It is more likely to be used for weather alerts than other incidents and I want to ensure that as many people as possible in Oxfordshire receive this information."