Families in Abingdon are counting the cost of their homes being flooded for the third time this year.

People living in Chaunterell Way and surrounding streets suffered the effects of floodwater inside and outside their houses after the River Ock burst its banks on Monday.

The floodwater poured across the field behind their homes, and the streets were filled for the third time this year - homes were also affected in January and September.

READ MORE: Key Oxford road overwhelmed with major flooding 

"Three times in one year is unprecedented - that's never happened before," said pensioner Jim King, a spokesman for the Ock Valley Flood Group.

"The water came in at the front and I had to mop it out - it was my wife's birthday but it wasn't a happy one.

"There is a depot for sandbags in the field at the end of the road but they don't prevent the water getting into your garage and your house.

"We have been flooded three times this year but we are still being ignored."

(Image: Andy Ffrench) Mr King said home insurance premiums are increasing for householders each time there is a flooding incident.

His neighbour Jon House, a father-of-three, said his family has been devastated by the repeated flooding.

He added: "I've got an eight-month-old - my wife had to take the baby to stay with relatives as I try to sort the house out.

"The water came up through the floorboards and wrecked the carpets - the brickwork is getting soaked time and time again.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) "We are all fed up with it but what can we do? The authorities know this is happening but no one seems prepared to help us."

Earlier this year Mr King complained that flood barriers, once tested by the Environment Agency to protect homes in the area, had been removed from a local depot and taken elsewhere.

The agency admitted it no longer planned to deploy the barriers in the event of the River Ock bursting its banks and there is currently no flood plan to protect homes in Abingdon.

Earlier this month, Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran urged the Government to review funding formulas so that homes in towns like Abingdon as well as homes in cities could be protected.

This week she told the House of Commons that she had asked the Environment Agency to visit Abingdon following the latest flooding but it had refused to send staff.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) She added: "They told us they could not send enough people - not because they don't have the staff or the money but because not enough of them have completed a workplace assessment and training over how not to be assaulted by angry residents."

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said he would raise the issue with the Environment Agency.

Abingdon Tesco Extra was forced to shut on Monday after its car park was flooded and it remains closed to customers.

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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.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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