A FLOOD campaigner today backed a new digital map which promises to "revolutionise" insurance assessments in high-risk areas.

Di Keal said Norwich Union's multimillion-pound project - which the company claims is the largest and most accurate ever produced and targets individual homes rather than postcode areas - was a step in the right direction for water-weary residents facing high premiums.

But Mrs Keal, whose home at Norton was flooded in 1999 and 2000 and who is communications director of the National Flood Forum, said insurers needed to examine flood homes even more closely, taking into account improvements homeowners made to safeguard properties.

Norwich Union said more than 600,000 homes in risk areas could now qualify for insurance after today's launch of its "revolutionary" digital UK flood map. Nearly five million people live in flood plains, often making cover hard to secure.

As well as highlighting at-risk homes, the map shows how often a flood is likely to occur and to what depth, taking into account height of land surrounding rivers and how far swollen rivers spread.

The multimillion-pound project - initially launching in parts of Shropshire and Norfolk - will be rolled out across the UK, starting with high risk flood areas, and is due for completion by the end of 2004.

Mrs Keal backed any bid to end the insurance "postcode lottery".

She said: "It will help a lot of people who've not been able to get insurance for their properties," she said.

"On the downside, it might pinpoint people who are not going to get insured, or increase their premiums."

She told of one elderly Malton resident whose premiums tripled after 2000. She also had a £16,000 excess put on two policies.

Updated: 10:40 Wednesday, March 03, 2004