FLOOD-hit Thorne Farm Way home-owners who fear more misery have urged residents not to dump rubbish in a troublesome Ottery waterway.

FLOOD-hit Thorne Farm Way home-owners who fear more misery have urged residents not to dump rubbish in a troublesome Ottery waterway.

The brook, which runs from the estate to the River Otter along Barrack Road, overflowed in heavy downpours twice in six weeks last year- contributing to flooding devastation which has left part of the estate sparsely populated since.

Tonnes of debris is now steeped-up along the bank of the stretch, partly owned by Midas Homes, after it was dug-out by contractors in January- but residents fear the litter-strewn souvenier left behind is an "arsenal" for vandals who could be causing chaos without realising it.

Retired, Thorne Farm Way resident Barry Fern 69 spent three hours clearing the 300- yard stream last Saturday, pulling out rubbish ranging from bin bags to building materials, trousers and tyres.

He said a single four inch by two foot piece of wood dumped in the brook caused water to swell alarmingly, by around a foot, and will now patrol the area every other day to ensure it remains unblocked.

He said: "It (the brook) has not been cleared properly and needs to be attended to. There's enough on the bank to block it up 12 times over, and if people still want to throw things in there like they have done they have an arsenal here.

"It's amazing what one piece of wood did, but I pulled out a four foot piece of scaffolding, cuttings from a fir-tree, pallets and three whole car wheels.

"Things I've removed and chucked miles away have ended up back in there.

"Its wanton vandalism-they may mean no harm- but that is no use when it blocks and floods like it has.

"It was Bloody hard work. We've had enough hardship with flooding already- its broken up our community but we've all kept I touch despite being flung to the far parts."

Midas Homes, who owns the Thorne Farm Way stretch of the brook was unavailable for comment as the Herald went to press yesterday.