FLOOD victims in Kidlington are angry at claims their village was "sacrificed" to save Banbury by opening floodgates on the River Cherwell.

Mum-of-two Yvette Tippett, 34, of Cherwell Avenue, Kidlington, said: "The whole of Kidlington is fuming because of rumours that the floodgates were opened to save Banbury, with us suffering instead.

"If that was the case, then we should have been given more warning. We want the truth from the Environment Agency, and those who suffered are talking about forming an action group because the issue of compensation is at stake.

"We managed to save the sofa but we have lost the fridge, freezer and washing machine. We have full contents insurance so we will be able to claim for what we have lost but we are only just starting to get back to normal."

Linda Pugsley, 48, rushed round to her parents' home in Cherwell Avenue when the flooding struck. She said: "There are a lot of stories going round about Kidlington being sacrificed to save Banbury and if that proves to be the case then that is going to leave a lot of very angry people."

Her mum Gladys Peat, 75, fled through her kitchen window on Friday night. She said: "The community spirit has been wonderful. We have seen rain like that before but not the floods. I just do not understand it." Police stepped up patrols in evacuated areas after the floods to protect against looters but, unlike in other areas of Britain, said no cases were reported.

Neighbours Nick and Debbie Drake and their four children - Carl, ten, Jenna, 12, Nathan, 13, and Charmaine, 15 - were left without heating after the flood. Taxi driver Nick said: "Until the insurers pay up we are going to have to live in the cold."

Meanwhile, Gosford and Water Eaton Parish Council today demanded an explanation from the Environment Agency of what effects the decision to open floodgates had on water levels at Kidlington.

Members want to know whether the opening of the gates created a surge effect.

A statement said the council wanted details of "the manner in which the floodgates were opened above Kidlington, which it is believed may have had a bearing on the extent of flooding created in the Kidlington area".

There are also fears that water may have built up behind the A34 road embankment, worsening the situation.

But the Environment Agency joined British Waterways to dismiss claims that opening the floodgates led to the flooding in Kidlington.

A spokesman said a few floodgates were opened, some by private landowners attempting to prevent water levels rising further on their own land.

But he added: "It made no difference because of the sheer volume of water involved. There was no way the flooding could have been prevented."

The agency said today all flood warnings had been lifted in the Banbury area, where more than 200 people were returning to their homes.

A yellow alert remained in Kidlington but was expected to be lifted later today.

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