Weeks after a burst water main flooded homes, residents have been struck by another disaster.

A sewer servicing many of the homes in Normandy Crescent, Cowley, Oxford, - including those which were unaffected by the flood in January - collapsed.

Simon Price, tenancy operations director for Oxford City Council, which owns many of the houses and flats, said: "It has now been repaired and dealt with and it's not going to cause any delays.

"But there would have been some smells and some backing up in drains for people living in the flats above those which were flooded.

"I believe we've got to do a couple of bits and pieces in terms of making good various things, but the actual sewer pipe has been replaced."

Thames Water is paying for the clean-up and repair operation for the flood damage which is expected to run to hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The company confirmed the sewer had been repaired, but was unable to identify why it had happened or whether it was linked to the flood.

Spokesman Robin Markwell said: "Contractors first made us aware of a problem with a drain in Normandy Crescent on Thursday afternoon.

"We arrived within an hour and our investigations revealed that a council-owned sewer had collapsed.

"We worked over the weekend to fix the sewer and we are currently investigating the cause of the problem.

"The collapse had no effect on the clean-up/repair operations."

But Raymond Stone, who lives in Normandy Crescent, said: "It wasn't very pleasant because of the smell, more than anything.

"What I don't understand is why didn't they come across this problem when they were doing the main waterpipe? They must have known it was there.

"They had just covered all the grass by the houses and reseeded it, now they have had to come along and dig it up again which seems like a waste of taxpayers' money."

A meeting was held between flooded-out residents, Thames Water, and the city council on Monday.

A sixth family has been told when they can return home, which will be in May, but eight more families living in council accommodation are still waiting to find out when their homes will be ready.

Privately owned homes have to go through their insurers to find out when they can go home. The first people are expected to be able to return home on Friday. Drying is still under way at the remaining properties.