Villagers are counting the cost after a mudslide tore through their gardens and homes leaving a trail of devastation.

Residents in Larch End, Garsington, were woken in the early hours by a crashing sound and could not believe their eyes when they went to investigate.

Kay Adams and her husband Les had their garage torn apart as a torrent of mud washed down from the field behind their house.

Mrs Adams said: "We both woke with a start. I think it was when the water burst through the garage. We went to the lounge and looked through the window and could see it was a torrent.

"We sat and watched the entire field heading towards us. It went everywhere. The speed and force of the water was terrifying.

"When it burst through the garage most of our belongings ended up in the next road.

"The cats' bed and all my pots went everywhere."

Both cats escaped the flood, one was found hiding, covered with mud, in a corner at the top of the garden.

The couple's car was fortunately parked outside on the drive.

Mr Adams said: "If that had been in the garage the mud wouldn't have got through. It would have come in the house." The mud poured down the sloping road, destroying the garden of Frank Seal and pouring into his home.

"It went right through my house, out the back to the next houses down," he said.

"When I got up in the morning I was astonished. I had a lawn and some lovely bushes. Now it's just mud."

The mess had to be dug away from Mr Seal's front door so he could get out.

"Under the car in the garage was filled with mud. I had to dig it out and put a high pressure hose on to clear it. Everybody was working like mad," he said.

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