Election candidates found themselves in deep water canvassing at new homes on Didcot's Ladygrove estate.

The low-lying area was hit by flooding during the winter and despite the onset of summer, it is still an issue on the doorstep for many householders.

South Oxfordshire District Council's has been investigating the problem after homes were sandbagged at Sutherland Beck because of the floods.

The council's engineering consultant's, Babtie, believe it was caused by water backing-up in a ditch at the foot of a nearby railway embankment.

Labour parliamentary candidate Stephen Beer said he and local Labour councillors were campaigning for measures to prevent a recurrence of the flooding.

Mr Beer welcomed a decision by house developer Bryant Homes to construct a land drain along a cycleway running parallel with the railway embankment.

He said: "Babtie has also written to Railtrack asking the company to maintain a ditch along the embankment and clear silt and vegetation."