Lewes residents found their town under water

For most of the year, the message board will show a view of the town's castle and a street map.

But when needed, the display will change to one of four codes: All Clear, Flood Watch, Flood Warning or Severe Flood Warning.

The floods of 2000 were the worst for 40 years with most of the town under water.

More than 800 properties were damaged and a council report says the cost for the East Sussex region had risen to �130m.

Peter Midgley, the Environment Agency's manager for Sussex, said the public had been shocked by how quickly the floods had spread.

Residents warned

"The fear that it could happen again is what brings people to the River Ouse at times of high flows, just to check the river with their own eyes to gain some level of reassurance," he said.

The new sign, which operates like a rotating advertising board, is positioned at the west end of Cliffe High Street where the floods were at their worst.

It is controlled directly from the Environment Agency's offices for the Sussex area and was set up with support from Sussex Enterprise and Lewes District Council.

Mr Midgley said: "Warnings can be issued to the public as soon as the agency knows flooding is likely and we can quickly reassure residents when the threat has passed."