THINK you could do a better job of protecting Worcestershire from flooding than the Environment Agency or Government?

The Department of Trade and Industry has produced Floodranger, the first ever flood simulator computer game, to give people the chance to find out.

Priced at around £50, it is hard to imagine the game living up to the prediction of the Government's chief scientific advisor, Sir David King, that it could become a "best seller".

But the DTI insists there is a serious point. The player is in control of a fictional area of the UK coast over a 100-year period, defending cities towns and the countryside while creating jobs and building housing for an expanding population.

As a result, it will be useful to local councils, the Environment Agency and students, it is argued.

Sir David, who pointed out 1.7m households and £200bn of assets are at risk of flooding in England and Wales, added: "It is intended to raise awareness of flood and coastal defence issues in a way that is both fun and thought provoking.

"Players must take tough decisions and face the consequences."

I have played the game and can confirm the consequences were bleak.

I was placed on a fairly easy setting, which assumes the world will attempt to limit emissions of the gasses which lead to global warming and rising water levels.

My first job was to give people a place to live. I went for 60,000 eco-homes, which were expensive but looked good and were resistant to water.

But they had nowhere to work. So I invested in some retail units. I also built a small reservoir to provide water.

I sat back and waited for 10 years to pass. I had not done well.

People were dry, but they had nowhere to live or work because I'd not built enough houses or created enough employment. Public approval was down to a dangerous 34 per cent.

Only one solution. Find a nice green spot and put up tens of thousands of eco-homes. I also needed to build around 1,000 retail units, but the bank was empty so I had to take out a loan.

People had shelter and money, but I had no cash to strengthen my flood defences, which were in need of urgent improvement.

At the same time, water levels were rising fast. I had to sit back and hope.

For the next decade I was OK - but I still had no money for defences as I was paying back the loan.

Another 10 years and - disaster - a "catastrophic flooding event".

My public approval rating slumped to 27 per cent and it was Game Over (the cut-off point was 30 per cent). I'd failed as Floodranger.

n If you would like a go, copies of the game, priced around £50, are available from kpm@discoverysoftware.co.uk