Workmen have cleared blocked pipes that left council flats soaked with water, after residents complained about their plight to the Oxford Mail.

Residents Debbie McFarlane and Paul Howard in their flat at Brome Place

People living in Brome Place, Barton, Oxford, said the problem had been going on for months.

But Oxford City Council said it had only been notified of the problem on October 21.

Drains from the roof of the building travel down to pipes in a third-floor washroom area, where a blockage was causing water to overflow and cascade down the staircase into individual flats.

Following calls from the Mail, the council on October 22 sent in workmen to clear the blockage and caretakers to clean up the flood damage.

The council also sent surveyors to assess what could be done to prevent the problem happening again.

Paul Howard, 62, who lives on the ground floor, said he had already had to change his carpet because of the flooding.

But he said water was again seeping under his front door.

He added: "The water is about six inches into my flat.

"You can see it running down the walls of the washroom, running under the door of the washroom and cascading down the stairs.

"During the recent rain it was coming down like a waterfall.

"There are people here in their 70s and 80s.

"It's a wonder someone hasn't been carted to hospital with a broken back because the stairs are so slippery. We're constantly phoning up and they keep putting us off.

"It seems funny that when you get in touch with the Oxford Mail, council workers come round immediately."

Brome Place resident and care worker Debbie McFarlane, 40, said: "It's been like this for months.

"One man came from the council about two months ago, but nothing changed.

"The water is just pouring down the stairs."

A council spokesman said they had only been notified of the problem on Monday, and had acted within their normal response time.

He said: "We would usually respond later the same day a complaint is made, or the following day at the latest.

"In this case, the pipes were damaged by vandals who had ripped them off the wall. Workmen have already fitted clips to prevent it happening.

"It's a recurring problem and we have sent someone down to unblock the drains and look at the problem on the roof.

"A team of caretakers has also been sent down to clean up the mess and surveyors are also looking at the drains on the roof, which can get blocked by leaves."