THE first two families flooded out of their Oxford homes by a burst water pipe have been told they should be able to return later this month.

Twenty-four homes in Normandy Crescent were damaged after an estimated million litres of water flooded the street on January 25.

Oxford City Council, which owns 14 of the properties, has confirmed the first two will be ready for the residents to go home on March 23 and three more in April.

But residents, who are staying in temporary accommodation, were shocked to receive a letter from Thames Water asking them to pay for their annual water bill.

Pauline Ximines, her three children and her husband Wayne still do not know when they will be return home. She is a childminder and has been unable to work since the flood.

The family, who own their home, have been moved by their insurance company four times since the pipe burst.

Mrs Ximines, who is staying in Church Cowley Road, said: "We have been given no dates, no nothing. I'm not happy at all.

"We're really struggling for money and even though we're going to get it back we don't know when and really, we need it now."

Mrs Ximines had been asked to pay council tax on both her home and the temporary accommodation - which she refused to do and the council has now confirmed she will only have to pay council tax on one property.

She said the first apology she had received from Thames Water had been at a meeting this week.

Rosemary Pearson, who has been staying in the Premier Travel Inn, Garsington Road, does not believe she will be able to return home until June.

She said: "The staff at the travel inn are absolutely great, but it's very, very boring and I can't wait to get home.

"There's not really a regular bus service that we can use either and my husband's got a wheelchair which unfortunately was in the front garden so he's housebound in the hotel unless we have a taxi."

Rosemary and her husband, Joseph, who are both in their 70s, have lived in the property since 1957 and have been told their house would not be ready until May 31.

The meeting between residents, the council and Thames Water was held this week and five families were told when they would be able to return home but private tenants still don't know when work on their properties will be finished.

Thames Water spokesman Robin Markwell said: "Thames Water apologised to those who had mistakenly received water bills. We will not be asking residents to pay for water and sewerage services to their flooded homes while these properties are drying out.

"We are sorry for the continuing disruption and we will keep residents updated."

Another meeting will be held on March 19 when all council tenants should be given a moving home date.