FLOODED families are so fed up with the recent bad weather they have taken matters into their own hands.

Neighbours from Beechcroft Road, Upper Stratton, regularly park their cars on both sides of the busy road when it rains heavily so only one vehicle can pass through at any one time.

Then two residents will direct traffic to ensure cars can get up and down the street.

The unusual traffic calming measure has been implemented to stop passing motorists from spraying their homes.

"It has now come to this," said 60-year-old Keith Collett.

"The drains fill up and overflow after just 10 minutes of prolonged rain and spill back out onto the road, which has a slight dip.

"It comes from the drains and over the kerbs.

"Cars then bring with them gallons of water when they go past.

"Directing the traffic does seem to make a difference.

"It forces people to slow down and only one person can get through at a time.

"We use about five cars and park them outside our homes. We have to do something.

"We asked the police if it was legal and they said if you're not parked on double yellow lines it was alright."

Residents say it is the only short-term alternative to the problem as nothing appears to have changed in the last year.

They say there has been at least five occasions where water has infiltrated properties since last July.

Pete and his wife Sue have lived in the road for 45 years and say flooding has only been an issue for 12 months.

"It could be a blocked drain," added Pete.

"All I know is that we haven't had a problem since we've lived here until now."

Sue is adamant she does not want to move.

"I would rather stay here and fight," she said.

"I hope this can be resolved as we are fearful every time it rains.

"You can't make any plans like going on holiday in case you have to rush back home to put sandbags down."

Another neighbour, Nick Ball, said: "I think we're all frustrated as this could be fixed, that's the annoying thing. "It's been nearly a year and Thames Water haven't even been out to put a camera down to look at the drains. It could be debris left from the floods in July."

Each of the households the Advertiser spoke to has sandbags at the ready and use them nearly every time it rains.

Mum-of-two Donna Adams has been flooded several times since the devastating floods hit the town on July 20 last year.

"We only moved back home in May and were flooded again in June," she said.

"We had to have three driers positioned under the floorboards for a week to dry everything.

"We're still living here although I won't buy any carpets or new furniture in case it gets ruined again."

A spokeswoman for Thames Water said: "CCTV will be carried out today.

"There is no history of flooding in the area but this will see if there is anything down there."