A PARTY has been organised by residents living in Berkeley Close in South Cerney to mark the one year anniversary since their homes were left ruined and soaked by filthy flood water.

Last October and December an accumulation of excessive rain, an inadequate sewerage system and a backlog of water left the Fosseway-owned houses and flats cracked and damp and residents living there reeling.

In the last year steps have been taken by Fosseway Housing Association, Thames Water, Cotswold District Council and the Environment Agency to clear up the mess the floods caused but some residents are still waiting for life to return to normal.

Doris Land, 56, who has lived with her husband Ian, 57, in Berkeley Close for 13 years has invited all her neighbours and friends in the village to a house party today to mark the anniversary.

She is hoping representatives from CDC and Fosseway Housing will go along to meet some of the residents and provide answers about when their misery is likely to end. Mrs Land said: "Last year was the most miserable ever. All the flood water ruined my carpets and furniture and now Christmas is here again and we still have no carpet and only scraps of furniture to live on.

"The party is not being held to celebrate how far we have come in the last year and how much has been achieved in clearing up the mess the floods caused but to mark the fact that we are still waiting for life to return to normal for everyone living here," she added.

"Everytime it rains my husband and I pray the flooding will not start all over again because we just couldn't take any more."

Her friend and neighbour Loreley Chapman who lives at The Leaze in South Cerney, says her previous house in Berkeley Close suffered extensive water damage after last year's flooding.

She said: "Thankfully my husband Mike and I have since moved but we will be going along to Mrs Land's party to show our support to those whose homes have still yet to be put right.

"Everyone is relieved that positive action and steps have been taken in the past year by the relevant groups concerned to resolve the problems we all endured but everyone is just sorry it has taken so long."

Fosseway Housing's Director of Services, Stephen Cook, said: "We have kept the residents of Berkeley Close fully informed of our plans and a representative has spoken to them at a tenants meeting about the work being carried out on the sewerage system in the area.

"A full survey has also been carried out on the drainage system in Berkeley Close and engineering work will commence shortly.

"We would like to stress that last year's flooding was not caused by Fosseway and that we do care about our tenants and are doing everything required of us to further improve the situation.