THE champagne corks were flying last night as a west Oxfordshire pub opened for the first time since last summer's flooding in the Evenlode valley.

But it is also a case of fingers crossed as Swan Inn landlord Richard Lait and neighbours in Ascott-under-Wychwood hope the devastation won't happen again.

Mr Lait said: "Two of the roads into the village were closed last weekend, because the river burst its banks. We all fear the worst whenever there's heavy rain."

The former builder carried out the renovation work himself to cut the cost of repairing the damage at the pub, in Shipton Road.

He had actually closed the pub for a refit a month before the July floods, but because it was not an occupied business, he could not claim a full insurance payment.

He said: "We were hit badly in Shipton Road. Everyone went under 4ft of water and in some properties it was up to 10ft. It was in the car park, gardens, everywhere.

"But reopening is a special night. I've not had to invite anyone. All the village knows about it and I expect there will be just standing room as we crack open the champagne."

  • Four rivers in Oxfordshire remain on flood watch after last weekend's rain, although the Environment Agency said river levels in the county were receding. The alerts are still in force along the Cherwell, Ray, Thame and Thames because the rivers were out of their banks in places.