Residents in Abingdon flooded twice in a year have been told it would cost too much to protect their homes.

People living in Chaunterell Way, off Drayton Road, are in despair after their garages and their homes were flooded following heavy rain last Sunday (September 22) and Monday (September 23).

The River Ock broke its banks and flood waters deluged homes in the street.

The latest flooding follows a similar incident in January when Environment Agency bosses confirmed they had removed 'temporary' flood barriers once tested to combat rising water levels on the Ock.

READ MORE: Tesco store reopens but flooding is still a threat

The agency said at the time there was currently no existing flood plan for the town, and Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran called for action.

Jim King, a member of the Ock Valley Flood Group, formed in the wake of floods in 2007, has been clearing up after water got into his home, and his garage.

Mr King, who is in his 80s, said: "The county council did bring some sandbags and the fire crews were brilliant - they put a shift in and wheeled sandbags around for us, but they couldn't stop our homes from getting flooded.

(Image: Colin Pizzie) "The Environment Agency tested some flood barriers to protect our homes - they cost about £8m - and then they took them away and we have been left to fend for ourselves.

"The only thing that has changed since January is that a shipping container has been put in the field behind our homes which is supposed to be where sandbags are stored, but there were none in there."

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Mr King said one of his neighbours had just replaced floorboards flooded in January and the new ones have now been damaged.

Chris Hambrook, who lives in the street and is also in his 80s, said he had invested more than £4,000 in flood defence boards for his home but water still got into his garage and porch.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "We understand the devastation that flooding causes, and our thoughts are with everyone affected.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) “Our teams reduce flood risk from the Ock by regularly clearing vegetation and debris from the river and maintaining the flood wall at St Helens.

“We also encourage residents at risk from flooding to sign up to flood warnings and make a flood plan, so they know what to do if they receive a warning.”

The agency said temporary barriers were not a viable solution in the Abingdon Ock floodplain, due to waterlogged ground and a fast-responding catchment.

Agency staff previously explored permanent options such as defensive walls or flood storage, but concluded the benefits were limited and the associated costs meant these would have not qualified for government funding. 

(Image: Andy Ffrench) Jon House, of Chaunterell Way, said water was coming up through floorboards in his living room, so he is taking his six-month-old baby son elsewhere.

He said: "If it's going to flood the house, I don't want him in here - it's not safe for him to be in it. So the wife was much happier with the idea of having him out and taking him to family somewhere else."

Abingdon's Tesco Extra store off Marcham Road was also badly hit by the flooding.

Its car park was covered with flood water from the Ock and the store was forced to close for two days, before reopening on Friday.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.