FLOOD victims left devastated after a water main burst in their street have rallied together in the aftermath of the disaster.

Community spirit has been shining through Normandy Crescent while residents attempt to piece back together their lives amid their flood-damaged homes.

Mandy Blessing, 46, said: “While we are going through this we are coming together, but I’m terribly afraid that if anyone has got the choice of moving they will.”

The mother-of-two said neighbours with electricity have been travelling up and down the street offering others tea and coffee as well as a helping hand.

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The NHS senior administrator added: “We are a community and we do care for each other and it’s such a nice feeling to think that after such a devastating event, something so wonderful has happened.”

Customers and staff from Asda Wheatley and Cowley’s Asda Living stores also united to raise £250 for the affected residents after a coin collection on Saturday, September 27.

But amid the goodwill, looters are believed to have targeted the street.

Barbara Greenwood, 79, and husband Ernest, 87 returned to their home a week after the flood hit to find their glass cabinet had been taken.

Furniture had to be removed from their flood-ravaged home and was placed outside.

She added: “I do worry because I think it’s so unfair. When you are in that situation you should be left alone. It feels as if it’s never ending.”

The pair have been flooded twice since moving into their home in 1957 but Mrs Greenwood said she thought thousands of pounds of damage had been caused this time.

Huw Dimond, 28, was living in his flood-damaged house with girlfriend Liz Bayliss, 26, until Monday but the pair are now staying in a hotel.

The Oxford Brookes University physiotherapy student said: “The first couple of nights (in the house) we could feel damp in the air and it was really cold inside.

“It’s a bit irritating. We have only been in the house six or seven months and it’s our first house.

“We’ve been looking forward to having Christmas there and by the looks of it we won’t be now.”

Angered residents of the 23 homes flooded last Tuesday were left furious after Thames Water was unable to answers their questions at a drop-in session on Tuesday at St Francis C of E primary School, in Horspath Road.

Thames Water spokesman Stuart White said: “Our priority is to help each customer with their own individual needs as much as we can, and Tuesday’s drop-in session helped us to further understand what those needs are.

“We understand it is frustrating – it is our pipe and our responsibility to fix it. We sympathise deeply with residents affected and are doing all we can to help get life back to normal.”

The company has yet to explain how the water main burst or how it plans to prevent it from doing so again.

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