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Tom and Terri Murphy in their cottage in Tuners Lane

ANGRY villagers who were forced to put up their own flood defences are at the end of their tether after being flooded for the fourth time in 12 months.

Residents in Crudwell unblocked ditches and cleared out the river after the Environment Agency refused to help, saying the population of Crudwell was too small for cash help.

Residents were braced for a repeat of the disastrous summer floods when a flood warning was sent out over the weekend.

Although flood defences held out well in parts of the village, homeowners in Tuners Lane had to start again with restoration work.

Terri Murphy, whose cottage in Tuners Lane has been flooded four times, said although work was being done by various agencies to combat the problem there was no long-term plan for the village.

She said: "Flooding is a constant worry for us. We are paranoid every time it rains that the cottage will flood again. Now we are constantly watching weather reports and just holding our breath."

Mrs Murphy, who now lives in rented accommodation with her husband, Tom, praised the efforts of villagers to stop more flooding.

A Wiltshire County Council spokesman confirmed it had been carrying out a survey on the drains in the village and had identified areas of concern.

The authority said it was working hard to solve the long-term problem of flooding.

Villager Malcolm French, who is part of the Crudwell flood defence group, said: "Some people have had a terrible year but since we formed the group people have become more reassured.

"We are really pleased and with the advice of the Environment Agency we can now move forward."

Parish councillor Terry Fraser said: "When the flood warning was issued we were all a bit worried because we have seen some terrible flooding in the area.

"But the measures we put in have seemed to work. Of course you can't tell what would have happened if we didn't do this work but without a shadow of a doubt this has improved the situation.

"When the Environment Agency said Crudwell was not one of its priorities the community had no choice but to get stuck in.

"The work we have done is just first aid. We urgently need to get more work done."

An Environment Agency spokesman said the agency was working closely with the parish council but was still in no position to offer funding.

10:29am Thursday 20th March 2008

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