The floods are a distant memory to most of us in Oxfordshire.

But for some unhappy souls, they are still at the forefront of their minds.

They are members of the 180 families who have still not been able to move back into their homes, following damage caused by last July's floods.

In a month's time, some faced the prospect of having to pay council tax on the homes they cannot occupy.

Council tax relief in such circumstances is allowed only for a year.

But the Government has stepped in to extend the concession and has promised councils that it will reimburse them for the losses.

This year's loss of council tax will have been borne, in many cases, by other taxpayers.

But we are sure most people, knowing the plight of the flood victims, would have been happy to have paid that small contribution on their bills.

Nothing is worse than having your home devastated by floodwater, and the families still affected deserve all the help and sympathy we, as a community, can give.