Residents of a Botley estate have for the first time been compensated for a 37-year drainage problem which sees sewage wash up on to their properties.

In the past year, six homes in Dean Field Road have had their driveways, garages and gardens awash with toilet paper, excrement and condoms on five separate occasions.

Now Thames Water has given the residents £75 compensation each for a flooding incident on June 7 after admitting it was in contravention of the Government’s new Guaranteed Service Scheme (GSS) introduced this April.

The scheme obliges water companies to recompense individual customers up to a maximum of £500 for each external sewer flooding incident where it has failed to meet minimum standards of service.

It does not cover residents for flooding from exceptional weather conditions.

The residents were made aware of the new compensation scheme after Cumnor parish councillor and local resident Peter Bowell took up their case.

Mr Bowell, of Dean Field Road, said: “It doesn’t compensate the residents for their inconvenience but it's a step in the right direction.

“Every time there’s a heavy rain storm here, people worry.

“The stress is the worst thing.

“This compensation isn’t a perfect outcome but it’s an acceptance from Thames Water that there’s a problem, and that’s a chance to rejoice.”

He added: “For a long time we tried to prove there was a problem and Thames Water wouldn’t even accept it.”

The sewer discharges mean residents of around 70 homes in Dean Field Road, Broad Close, Eynsham Road and Owlington Close are unable to flush their toilet or wash until the problem has abated, without adding to the effluent.

Residents have been told by Thames Water that no action will be done to cure the problem until 2010, but the company is including Dean Field Road on its programme of improvements to be carried out before 2016.

Mr Bowell added: “This doesn’t cover people for the stress involved. Every time it rains everyone here is on tenterhooks.

Heather Smith, 63, who received the compensation, said: “It doesn’t mean anything at all. I want their £75 if I’m entitled to it but I really just want the sewers put right.”

“The money is all very well but it doesn’t solve the problem.”