Lincolnshire emergency planners spend £105,000 on 'ER' flood signs

Emergency planners are spending £105,000 on flood evacuation route signs deemed necessary in the "interest of public safety".

Lincolnshire County Council said it was taking the action to protect coastal communities.

A tidal surge in 2013 led to extensive damage on the coast, including at Donna Nook, where hundreds of seals were displaced.

Officials said the signage would help people reach places of safety.

The authority said, although £105,000 might seem like a large amount of money to spend, the signs - which will be made up of the letters ER on a red background - were necessary.

It said transport would be provided for residents without cars if severe flooding occurred.

The routes will not show on satellite navigation systems at the present time.

Richard Davies, executive member for highways at the authority, said: "This provision will help us encourage residents who live in these flood risk areas of our county to follow the signs in an emergency."

He added: "[It] will also raise awareness amongst tourists and visitors who are not familiar with our road network."

Thirteen routes along the east coast, external and in the south of the county will benefit from the warnings, which will be added to existing road signs, the council said.

The signs, which will be in place by the end of September, have been funded by Lincolnshire County Council, East Lindsey District Council and Coastal Pathfinder - the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.