Heavy rain caused chaos in Oxfordshire as homes and roads flooded yesterday (December 30).

As the Environment Agency placed rivers across the county on flood watch, some of the area's busiest roads were under water.

Scores of people called Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service to report floods from 2pm onwards. Police, firefighters, and Oxfordshire County Council Highways officers worked to divert traffic, cordon off roads and build barricades of sandbags to protect homes and businesses.

A fire service spokesman said they received at least 15 reports of flooding yesterday.

They were busy through the night helping people in Eynsham and Bampton whose properties were still under water today.

Waterlogged roads included the A4095 through Long Hanborough and Bladon.

Swinford Tollbridge, on the main route for many commuters driving between Oxford and Witney on the B4044 was also closed.

Speaking from his mobile phone, Bill McCardle, policy manager for Oxfordshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "I have been trying to get home to Witney from Oxford for an hour and a half.

"Every road I have taken via Eynsham or the back roads to Long Hanborough has been flooded, and cars are being turned around.

"Some of the floods are 100 metres long."

Roads either side of Eynsham were closed as firefighters tried to pump water back into the river.