ROADS turned to rivers around Ottery again last weekend as some residents, who fear every downpour, suffered flooding problems for the second time in six weeks.

ROADS turned to rivers around Ottery again last weekend as some residents, who fear every downpour, suffered flooding problems for the second time in six weeks.

Downpours last Friday night saw home-owners in Furzebrook, Ridgeway, Paternoster Row and Victoria Terrace all suffer further flooding woes and the repair operation to the town's roads was also set back.

Thorne Farm Way residents watched nervously as the brook, which runs through the area and is filled with two feet of mud and silt from the storms of October 30, overflowed.

Still cleaning up from those events, Jenny Hill was one of six residents who saw water seep into the garages of her townhouse. She said: "We worry every time it rains that it will overflow. I didn't lose anything important, but things I use- the fact is its stress and hassle that goes along with it. - This wouldn't have happened if they had cleared out the silt from stream. This is an urgent matter, they shouldn't hold back."

Hands-on residents have spent their own time clearing 50ft of the problematic stretch of brook, which is owned by Midas Homes. The community hold the company responsible and feel East Devon District Council has failed to use enforcement powers to ensure work is done.

Yesterday EDDC said it had been in talks with Midas Homes with a view to them clearing the stream within the next week and that enforcement action was not necessary at present.

A spokesperson added: "We are applying pressure to get something done as a matter of urgency." Midas Homes has not commented on the situation.

Councillor Roger Giles has been left "very unhappy" after Devon County Council members declined to discuss his motion to call on Government to make financial resources available to landowners to achieve more flood-friendly agriculture practices on East and West Hill.

Cllr Giles said: "A lot of people in Ottery and its surrounding communities are getting frustrated and angry- six weeks after flooding they wanted to see some action.

"It's really sad, people have been flooded for the second time and my heart goes out to them. We see torrents of water turning roads into rivers and washing down mud and all sorts all too often, time after time. We really have to do something to address it."

Mr Giles has highlighted a need for better drainage capacity for surface water in Victoria Terrace and Ridgeway and residents are hopeful steps are being made to prevent further occurrences.