They may be young, but pupils at Rose Street Primary School have the edge when it comes to what to do in a flood.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service’s schools officer, Phil Reeves, visited pupils as part of a three-year partnership with the Environment Agency.

The Kent-wide education programme is aimed at children living in areas at risk from river and coastal flooding.

It aims to encourage youngsters to be aware of how flooding might affect them and to make sure they know what action they need to take to protect themselves, their loved ones and homes. They were also told about issues such as hoax calls and playing with matches.

Mr Reeves said: “With more torrential rain and floods hitting parts of Britain, phrases like 'severe weather warning’ and 'flood warning’ are becoming all too familiar. And while many of the kids we speak to may have not yet experienced the impact of a flood, they live and go to schools in areas at increased risk of this threat.

“Through the lessons we teach and encourage flood preparation and show the children the equipment firefighters can use to deal with any eventuality; from a driver stranded in a car on a flooded road to helping evacuate someone with disabilities from a flooded home.”

After the talk, the children were each given a fun book on the topics covered in the lesson.

He added: “We hope that by providing children with the knowledge of the risk flooding poses to them, their parents, their home, friends and school and by teaching them to plan ahead, these lessons will help reduce the damage that flooding can cause.”

• For tips on what to do in the event of a flood visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk and to sign up for free flood warnings call Floodline on 0845 988118.