Flood victims in the Vale of White Horse are demanding more protection from the district council to keep rising waters at bay.

Residents say they are poorly served by the council, which urged them to find and fund their own flood defences again this week because of its lack of resources.

Five council employees supplied 500 sandbags to 50 vulnerable residents, when heavy rain fell last Tuesday.

South Oxfordshire District Council handed out 1,000 sandbags, while West Oxfordshire District Council supplied 1,100 bags and enough sand for another 800 in Bampton.

The Vale of White Horse was one of the worst hit areas in Oxfordshire last July with more than 130 properties in Wantage, Grove and surrounding villages hit by flood water. Hundreds more were flooded in Abingdon.

A council spokesman said it had no plans to increase investment in sandbags. It said extra cash would be ploughed into drainage improvements and flood protection schemes to benefit greater numbers of people.

Council leader Tony de Vere said: "The council will always try to provide sandbags to people whose homes are at real risk, but we have limited manpower and won't always be able to help everyone who needs it in time. We encourage residents to help protect their homes themselves."

Pensioner Margaret Denton of Hawthorncorr Crescent, Grove, whose home was damaged by floods last July, said: "The council should supply sandbags, it's their job."

For information on protecting your home, go to www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk