MP Nicola Blackwood heralded the “hidden heroes” of communities hit by flooding while visiting her constituency yesterday.

The Oxford West and Abingdon MP left Westminster to visit flood-hit South Hinksey and Abingdon.

She said: “Local residents who have worked together to prevent and minimise damage in their neighbourhoods are real hidden heroes of these floods.

“While it is good to see flood defence measures working in many instances, some properties have flooded and many more people have been affected by disruption from closed roads and delayed trains.

“Living with flood risk on a daily basis is incredibly stressful and we must keep working to improve flood defences and community resilience.”

South Hinksey resident Roxanne Ledru, 47, had been trapped in the upstairs of her cottage in Manor Road for two days. She said: “Everyone keeps saying the waters are receding, but I don’t see any difference.

“I am still knee-deep in water and ankle-deep in my living room. I am from India and have seen this kind of thing on TV there but I never thought it would affect Britain like this, with all the power this country has. I thought it was a Third World problem.”

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said he was visiting Abingdon Road last night after travelling back from Westminster.