FAT deposits blocking Witney’s drains have been blamed after floods hit the town centre.

Thames Water sent a camera down to search 2,400ft of drains in the area and found 80 per cent of the sewer was blocked.

It was the third year in a row the town had been hit by floods and the news came as MP David Cameron yesterday visited and told businesses he was doing all he could to get the problem sorted.

Thames Water spokesman Amy Dutton said: “The survey revealed the sewer was 80 per cent blocked by fat, oil and grease.

“As a result, our engineers have been cleaning the sewer.

“There is a history of fat problems. You can only tell people what to do. Unless they listen to us this problem is not going to go away.”

The sewer has been cleaned three times in the past 18 months.

The problem is blamed on people pouring cooking oil and fat down the sink, which then hardens.

When other waste – such as wet wipes, sanitary products and condoms – was flushed away, it caught on the hardened fat and caused a further blockage.

Raw sewage and rubbish poured into the Royal Oak pub, in High Street, last Thursday after drains behind the pub became blocked.

Elsewhere, water covered the floor of the Cross Keys pub, in Market Square, as well as nearby Somerfield supermarket and Boots.

Mr Cameron visited the businesses affected by the floods – including the Royal Oak, where he met landlady Lesley Semaine.

She said: “It was very nice that he showed concern about it, especially as we are a small independent pub.”

Mr Cameron said: “Flooding is intrusive, devastating and the effects can be long-lasting.

“It has been my number one constituency priority since the terrible floods of 2007.

“As the local MP I will continue to do all I can to ensure flood prevention works are top of everyone’s lists in West Oxfordshire.”

Mrs Semaine added: “I am an independent and I can’t keep affording to re-carpet and refurbish. We can all put up with a freak of nature but not when it is man made.”

She also thanked her customers who helped during last week’s flooding. She said: “It was very much appreciated.”

The pub was also flooded in 2007, along with 72 businesses and 1,631 homes.

The Environment Agency, district and county councils, Thames Water and Witney Flood Action Group are in talks for a scheme to ease flood problems.