COWLEY families struck by a devastating flood last year are to benefit from a £10,000 cash fund.

Thames Water donated the lump sum to Normandy Crescent residents forced out of their homes after a water main running behind their street burst for a second time.

Its Community Fund will support families who live in the 15 houses and eight flats hit by the flood, caused by a 2.3 metre fracture to the main, on September 23.

Thames Water spokesman Stuart White said the cash was donated to “benefit the community.”

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He added: “It is being managed by Oxford City Council because we wish to stay independent of how it is spent.

“Our only criteria is that it is used for the benefit of those affected by the burst and not to make cash payments to individuals.”

Oxford City Council spokesman Chofamba Sithole said a liaison officer would speak with families to decide how to spend the cash.

It could be spent on counselling for traumatised families and community events in the area.

Mr Sithole said there was about £6,000 left after the council handed out Argos vouchers to affected families near Christmas.

He said the £150 vouchers were given to both council and private tenants, although four private tenants are yet to receive the gift.

But pensioner William Hillier said the council did not contact him about the vouchers and he only found out about them from a friend.

He added: “If I had not got in touch, I would not have got it. They did not intend to give the private owners the same consideration that they gave the council people from day one. There have been a lot of differences in how we have been treated.”

The 86-year-old said he appreciated the gesture from Thames Water but did not think counselling was an appropriate way to spend the cash.

He added: “Thames Water feel guilty because they have not done the right thing so they gave us the money.”

Barbara Greenwood, 80, and husband Ernest, 87, returned to their Normandy Crescent home last week after almost five months in hotels.

She said: “I think we have got to get through this ourselves. As soon as we get everything in the house and get everything sorted, we will be fine. What we could do with is a youth club – something that children could go to.”

County councillor for Churchill and Lye Valley Liz Brighouse said: “The money is a pittance in terms of the stress and trauma. It would have benefitted them on the day the flood happened.”

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