A new Neighbourhood Watch-type scheme will help hundreds of householders beat the sort of flooding which devastated their homes last summer.

Five resident-run emergency flood groups are being set up across the Wantage area to help people protect their homes.

Three will be in Grove, one in Letcombe Regis, and the other in Wantage.

The groups will comprise residents living along the Letcombe Brook, and others whose homes have been flooded in recent years, including 67 households in Grove and several properties in Mill Street, Wantage.

The groups will meet to create an action plan of practical solutions.

Sally Wallington, project officer for the Vale of White Horse District Council's Letcombe Brook project, is co-ordinating the groups.

She said that, since 1894, there had been seven severe floods - four since 2000.

She said: "The aim of these groups is to help residents help themselves to be better prepared for any future flood threats."

Options under consideration include neighbourhood flood alert systems, bulk buying of flood gates and local storage of sandbags.

Bill Farrar, council deputy director of commercial services, said: "The council only has limited resources to cope with emergencies such as flooding.

"There are many things residents can do to help themselves reduce the risk of flooding to their properties.

"We are hoping these groups will help people work together to come up with some helpful solutions."

The Lamb pub, in Mill Street, Wantage, was closed for six months following the July flooding.

Landlord Lee Chalmers, 30, is a member of the Mill Street group. He said: "We've met twice and now most people have flood guards on their front and back door, which they've paid for themselves."

Geoff Chown, of Mayfield Avenue, Grove, has campaigned to highlight flooding concerns in the village.

He said: "It's a good idea because it is similar to Neighbourhood Watch schemes, but for flooding.

"You would be able to know where your neighbour keeps his flood defence equipment and help save his property from flooding if he's not there."

Pam Westwood, 47, of Vale Avenue, Grove, was also flooded in July.

She said: "Unless you've been through it you don't know how difficult life is. We need to know how we're going to protect ourselves."