RESIDENTS say Max Sullivan-Webb's death through drowning in Tuesday's flash flooding was "an accident waiting to happen".

The 17-year-old got trapped in a brook swollen by storm water from surrounding fields about 200 yards from the Eastfield Road estate, Witney.

Les Rose, 78, whose back garden in Eastfield Road was flooded yet again, said he had earlier warned a group of children about the dangers.

Mr Rose said: "The water just attracts those kids. I've seen it before many times. I told them to keep away, just like I have done before.

"It is a terrible tragedy, but it was an accident waiting to happen.

"I've told the councils many times over the years about the floods and the dangers. Now we have a death."

The brook flows into a culvert draining into Hailey Road - which was closed to traffic on Tuesday with water up to 2ft deep.

The Environment Agency said it was funding a feasibility study about improving the culvert.

Area flood risk manager Geoff Bell added: "This was a terrible tragedy, a poor youngster losing his life.

"Flood waters are dangerous, that is the message coming from this."