Communities are being warned that "intense bouts of flooding" will become more frequent.

The stark message comes from the Environment Agency, as it launches its Flood Action Campaign.

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

Met Office records show that since 1910 there have been 17 record-breaking rainfall months or seasons – with nine of them since 2000.

As intense storms are becoming more frequent, sea levels are also rising because of climate change.

The Flood Action Campaign is targeting younger people through social media and online advertising, to encourage them to check their flood risk, sign up for free warnings and be prepared to take action when flooding hits.

Research shows that 18 to 34-year-olds are least likely to perceive flood risk to their area, know how to protect their homes or where to go for information. They are also at highest risk of dying, as they are less likely to recognise their personal risk.

Sir James Bevan, chief executive of the Environment Agency, said: “Climate change is likely to mean more frequent and intense flooding. Floods destroy – lives, livelihoods, and property.

"Our flood defences reduce the risk of flooding, and our flood warnings help keep communities safe when it threatens.

"But we can never entirely eliminate the risk of flooding. Checking your flood risk is the first step to protecting yourself, your loved ones and your home.”

Winter 2015 to 2016 brought widespread flooding to 17,000 properties across the north of England, with named storms Desmond, Eva and Frank causing December 2015 to be the wettest month ever recorded.

About 6,400 homes and businesses were swamped across Cumbria by the winter's storms - including Kendal, Appleby, Cockermouth, Keswick and Carlisle. In the Carlisle area alone, Storm Desmond destroyed 1,670 homes.

The Environment Agency says the threat of flooding is real and increasing – as is also demonstrated by its listing as one of the nation’s major threats.

By their very nature extreme events are rare, and a novel research method was needed to quantify the risk of extreme rainfall within the current climate.

Professor Adam Scaife, who leads this area of research at the Met Office, said: “The Met Office supercomputer was used to simulate thousands of possible winters, some of them much more extreme than we’ve yet witnessed.

"This gave many more extreme events than have happened in the real world, helping us work out how severe things could get.”