Beseiged villagers in Nuneham Courtenay are bracing themselves for the possibility of a third flood in 13 days.

Yesterday homeowners continued to barricade their houses with sandbags and clear debris from culverts as weather forecasters predicted more heavy rain tonight.

The village, just south of Oxford, has been flooded twice in the past two weeks.

Last night, with rain forecast throughout the week, villagers said there was little more they could do to stop another flood.

Parish chairman Paul Gillett said he and fellow villagers had spent the weekend building up their flood defences.

He told the Oxford Mail: "We've done all we can. We've put extra sandbags in place and filled the gaps on people's driveways.

"Today it's been raining for two or three hours with no noticeable difference, but there is water lying there, so the water table is at the top, and it isn't going to soak away.

"We've looked at all the angles, but if we get another four inches of rain, we've got big problems."

A Met Office spokesman said: "The large worry is for Monday evening in this region. It's something we will be keeping an eye on.

"During Monday evening there could be some very heavy weather but after that it should settle down for the next couple of days."

But he said Wednesday could also see severe weather conditions.

An urgent meeting will be held in the village this week to discuss the causes of the recent flooding.

The two incidents caused damage that will cost thousands to repair.

The first deluge on the night of Wednesday, October 11, affected up to 20 listed properties.

Many families were forced to move out into emergency accommodation in hotels around the region.

Just as the clearing up and drying out process was starting to make progress, a second two-hour downpour early on Friday brought further flooding for many of the householders who had hoped the worst was behind them.

Mr Gillett has been asked by South Oxfordshire District Council to organise a meeting within the community to discuss the whole problem and how further flooding can be avoided.

He said last night he hoped he would know by today what arrangements had been made, as he was still awaiting a response from the Environment Agency, Thames Water, and one local landowner.

He said: "From everything that's gone on, the council are definitely trying to do what they can, but it depends on a couple of farms either side of the village.

"I've asked them what they feel about who we should invite to the meeting and will have more information in a couple of days' time."