FIRE crews were called to deal with flooded homes in Oxfordshire today following heavy rain.

Firefighters helped to salvage belongings from dozens of homes in Witney, Leafield and Curbridge between 2.30am and 4am.

Homeowners in Hailey Road, Witney, were among the worst affected.

Environment Agency spokesman Dave Ferguson said 35mm of rain overnight in west Oxfordshire - compared to 15mm in the rest of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Gloucestershire - was responsible for the flood damage.

He said: "We believe a ditch running close to Eastfield Road overflowed - the amount of water was too high for the culvert, and our crews are now checking to make sure any debris has been cleared away from the grilles to ensure that the water is flowing as smoothly as possible.

"Our staff were called at 4am and we have been liaising with firefighters."

Resident Bob Swanton, 51, of Rose Cottage, Hailey Road, said: "The water came straight in at 3.15am and I found there was four inches of water on the ground floor.

"The same thing happened two years ago - cars driving through water in the road can make the problem worse.

"Firefighters came at 5am and I used a pump to pump out my house."

Mr Swanton said the water "came in a torrent" down Hailey Road and ended up right outside his cottage.

He added: "The fields flooded and the River Windrush was too full to take the excess water away.

Continued....

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