Robots in west Oxford's drains will help water engineers decide how to stop sewers overflowing when the River Thames bursts its banks.

Thames Water engineers will use the remote-controlled devices to take CCTV footage of the inside of the sewerage network.

The photographs will show if the pipes need to be re-lined to stop water flooding into them -- which in the past has seen them overflow in Duke Street and Earl Street, off Botley Road.

Andy Webber, whose Earl Street home was flooded following heavy rain in 2000 and 2003, said: "It's about time this was sorted out. The flood water gets into the sewerage system, backs up at the pumping station, overflows and goes everywhere.

"You are left with a mixture of sewage and river water, first covering your garden, then flowing into your house."

The survey was announced just over a month after Thames Water announced a £3m scheme to stop sewage flowing through streets in Marston, Oxford. Two 18.5m-deep underground storage tanks are to be installed to take excess water that has previously flooded Ferry Road and Edgeway Road during heavy rainfall.

The company is also at the preliminary stages of a £700,000 scheme looking at tackling problems in West Way, Botley.

Chris Shipway, Thames Water spokesman, said: "We can't stop the rivers from flooding. That's the Environment Agency's responsibility.

"We can stop the flood water from filling up our sewerage system and causing it to overflow.

"In September, we will be sending remote-controlled vehicles down, which beam pictures back showing us the conditions of the inside of the sewers, telling us if we need to re-line the pipes."

Mr Shipway said engineers would visit 38 properties affected by the flooding, so cameras could be sent down the pipes. He said: "We will be checking the extent of the work we need to do, and how much it will cost."

Bob Price, chairman of Oxford City Council's central, south and west area committee, said: "We welcome the fact they've taken the initiative. Having been pressured for five years to do something they've finally got the message."

Susanna Pressel, Oxford City Council member for Jericho and Osney, said: "It is high time they did this. We have been asking for it for years."

In January, the central, south and west area committee spent £38,000 on two electric pumps which were installed in a well to help prevent flooding at the end of Earl Street.

The pumps switch on when the well water reaches a pre-set level, and the water drains away from the well via three new gullies in Earl Street and the path between Earl Street and Duke Street.

In May, the Environment Agency announced a £100m scheme which could see Oxford by-passed by a five-mile channel running from Godstow Lock, near Wolvercote, to Sandford Lock, south of Oxford.