Residents in Abingdon feared they could be flooded again after the River Ock burst its banks.

Last July, people living on the Tithe Farm estate, Mill Road, and other streets off Drayton Road, were flooded, and during the early hours of Thursday river water began pouring into fields close to homes.

Homeowners fear further rainfall in the next 24 hours could lead to their houses being deluged a second time.

Martin Rutherford, 62, and his wife Pat, 57, moved back into their house in Chaunterell Way last Friday after £38,000 repairs. They had been living in a caravan on their drive.

They have been monitoring water levels in the Ock, which runs behind their home, and said the river broke its banks in places during the early hours.

Mrs Rutherford said: "The ground is sodden. We have just got our new carpets down and everything is brand new. We were looking forward to getting back to normal.

"The Government Minister Hilary Benn was in our house last year after the floods promising something would be done, but it has not happened.

"We were expecting all our new furniture to be delivered tomorrow, but I'm definitely cancelling that.

"I was out at 4am putting sandbags out and I have done everything I can do. The weather reports of more rain right through to the weekend are fright- ening.

"We got no warning from the Environment Agency - when I spoke to them they didn't seem to know the Ock had burst its banks."

Graham Barden, a spokesman for the Environment Agency, said the agency's systems did not highlight the Ock had broken its banks in the night.

He added: "A flood watch was issued a couple of days ago for the Ock, which indicates to residents that a river is expected to break its banks."

The Vale of White Horse District Council is liaising with the Environment Agency to provide sandbags for residents at Abbey House, the council offices in Abingdon.

Council chief executive Terry Stock urged residents not to panic and said water levels in the Ock may have peaked.