Landlord Antonio Fiorentino is furious that roadworks outside his house have created a 100ft-long puddle.

Mr Fiorentino, 51, who lives in Banbury Road, Oxford, has repeatedly complained to the city and county councils about the puddle - which is 6in deep in places - but to no avail.

The puddle was created by roadworks carried out in February to introduce drop-down places on the pavement for disabled people.

The problem is particularly frustrating for Mr Fiorentino because in early 1999 he was forced to spend more than £2,000 on the pavement outside his house as a planning condition of altering his property for his tenants.

He said: "I told the county council in March that the slope was in the wrong direction and the drain was at the highest point, but they ignored me.

"When a bus goes by now, the splashes are twice the height of a man. Where do they think the water is being dispersed? It's not flowing anywhere, it's ending up in my front drive.

"It is so bad that the cement holding my front wall together is being washed out. I can fit my finger in the gaps.

"It is dangerous for cyclists because the puddle blocks the cycle lane and if you want to walk, you might need a change of clothes if a bus goes by."

County council engineer Colin Carritt said: "We have acknowledged that we did not get it right. We will put in an extra gully.

"We have simply been waiting for the manpower to be made available. We now expect to be there within two weeks."

Mr Carritt added: "It doesn't amount to a top priority for us, even though it is a nuisance. Quite honestly with the flooding problems we have had, our priority is where homes are flooded.

"We realise he has been very patient, but we will do it when we can."