Hope is in sight for householders whose homes have been hit by flooding.

Technician Tom Stevenson watches a product test

Scientists at the HR Wallingford hydraulic research station are working with the Environment Agency and the British Standards Institute to fight floods by finding a replacement for the traditional sandbag.

The equipment is being tested on a purpose-built model street, complete with terraced houses and a wave machine.

Various products will be studied and, if they pass, they could get the kitemark seal of approval to indicate reliability.

The kitemark programme was launched on May 22 by Dr Stephen Huntington, chief executive of HR Wallingford, and Sir John Harman, chairman of the Environment Agency.