THE Prince's Trust has awarded £12,000 towards a new flood siren for the Appleby Emergency Response Group.

The alert system will be attached to the town's new cricket pavilion and be remotely operated, a meeting of Appleby Town Council heard.

Councillors were told the emergency response group was struggling to pay to insure the siren. One premium quote came in at more than £2,000. It was suggested the siren could become council property and so be covered by Appleby Town Council's own insurance.

The group's volunteers work alongside the 999 services and carry out tasks such as giving out sandbags and helping at evacuation centres.