DEVASTATING floods rocked the village of South Marston last summer and left people homeless and paranoid that history may repeat itself.

However, progress is being made to make sure the village is better protected.

Colin McEwen, the chairman of South Marston Parish Council, said: "It was a one in 220-year event we're told. That's an awful lot of water.

"There were 12 hours of rain and then a thunderstorm.

"That weather would put any system under strain."

He hopes, with the co-operation of local industries and some safety measures already being taken by locals, that the council can try to guard against natural disasters.

Waters rose to four feet in the flooding last July and affected 54 homes in the village. Now the parish council is under pressure to ensure that there are precautions in place.

Villager Gabby Trout, 17, said: "I just remember being really shocked. I didn't expect it to happen here.

"People were floating past in rubber dinghies. My mum couldn't get into the village."

Resident Roger Sansum, whose property escaped damage, said: "Sitting on the edge of it, you can probably see the funny side of it but there is nothing funny about floods."

Landlord of the Carriers Arms in South Marston, Didier Gaignerot, 41, is unlikely to forget July 20, when he had to watch his livelihood go underwater.

He said: "It was my daughter's birthday party.

"I'm sure she'll remember her eighth birthday.

"The water level rose quickly. Talking to some of the villagers , they say they've never seen anything like it in 60 to 70 years. They'd had floods, but not like that."

With ten inches of water flowing into properties, it was eight weeks before business could get back on track.

Some residents think more should be done.

Coun McEwen said: "There is a problem with the amount of water building just upstream from us.

"Three of the largest industrial areas in Swindon are in our parish and upstream from us. A lot more water does sit on the ground, but flows off it."

The sheer volume in July was just too much for the pipes that carry the water under the Greenfields estate to cope with.

Coun McEwen said that the parish council is looking to improve the ditches and drainage of the land generally to steer the water away from houses and to let it drain.

Some villagers have been digging to widen the brook themselves, but it is hoped the lagoon at Honda will also be extended in the future.

He said: "If Honda carry out work to prevent the flooding that they endured in their car park and that would greatly help the problem with Greenfields.

"This was much worse than living memory. If these things are put in place I think we stand a fighting chance even if we get that much water again."

However, villagers have still retained their sense of humour.

According to Mr Gaignerot, when a company called Rising Brook turned up to refit the pub carpets, one of the villagers said you're having a laugh'.