THE BIG clean-up was starting in earnest today after the worst floods to hit parts of Oxfordshire in living memory.

Hundreds of people in the Kidlington and Banbury areas spent the Easter weekend in hotels, B&Bs or with relatives after the River Cherwell burst its banks.

A man living in a tent beside the River Thames in Abingdon had to be rescued by firemen after water rose to dangerously high levels.

And a Red Alert was put on the River Cherwell in the St Clements area of central Oxford.

Police mounted extra patrols in evacuated areas to guard against looters.

Some householders, who went on holiday for the Easter break, are still unaware they have fallen victim to the floods.

Among the homes to be hit was that of Virgin tycoon Richard Branson. An extension and sitting room at the millionaire's mansion, in Mill End, Kidlington, was submerged under more than a foot of water, along with much of the extensive riverside grounds.

Residents and shopkeepers in nearby Mill Street, Cherwell Avenue and Queens Avenue, were today counting the cost and filling out insurance forms after a "tidal wave" flooded their homes on Friday evening. Mr and Mrs Ivor and Beatrice Walker, of Queens Avenue, said: "We have not seen anything like it in the 42 years we have lived here. There was absolutely no warning. Within an hour there was more than a foot of water in the house. We have lost the video, fridge, carpets, everything."

About 150 people were taken to Gosford Hall School at Kidlington and 200 in Banbury were evacuated to local schools and church halls.

Most were able to return home yesterday after water levels fell. Many electricity supplies had been restored and engineers were also working to restore phone lines.

Residents described the community spirit created by the crisis as the "spirit of of the blitz" and heaped praise on the emergency services.

Mr Michael Bratley, 53, and his mum Ethel, 84, were taken out of their home in Queens Avenue at 8pm by boat before being transferred to a fire engine, then a minibus brought from Glebe House old people's home in the village.

They said water levels rose to almost a foot in their house at about 6pm. Fire engines were out in the streets trying to pump water away.

Mr Bratley said: "We have never had it anywhere near the house before in 39 years. The highest it's been was about a foot away from the door, about 15 to 20 years ago.

"It was still rising when we left. We were keen to stay upstairs in our own house but they said it could be too dangerous and might get deeper and they wouldn't be able to get the boat down then. The water in the road was up to their knees as they waded through pushing our boat."

Local councillors and Abingdon and Oxford West MP Dr Evan Harris spent yesterday meeting flood victims. Mike and Joyce Rhymes, who own Cherwell Stores, in Mill Street, Abingdon, said they hope to be back trading tomorrow - despite a foot of water entering their shop.

But the flood could spell the end of neighbouring business The Bicycle Repair Shop. Owner Mrs Jackie Greenaway said it is unlikely she will be able to afford to continue - despite the shop being a lifeline for her son Shane, who suffers from cystic fibrosis.

Shane, 32, who had a heart and lung transplant four years ago, repairs bikes at the shop. He returned home from his latest a stay in hospital on the night before the flood.

Mrs Greenaway, of Kennington Road, Kennington, said: "The business does not make any money and I do not know if we can recover from this. It is the end of a dream."

The Red Alert on the River Cherwell shifted to Oxford on Saturday and Sunday after the river burst its banks in the St Clements area.

No homes were affected but botanists fear rare plant life will be lost after the worst flooding at the University's Botanic Garden since 1946. This is despite £50,000 having recently been spent on measures to prevent flooding.

Environment Agency officials issued a Yellow Alert after the Thames burst its banks in Abingdon, submerging fields and parkland alongside it.

Tent-dweller Mr Dave Newport, 36, and his pet dog Pooch were rescued by firefighters yesterday after spending the night on a well.

Station officer Trevor Cox, of Abingdon fire brigade, said: "We could not see him from the bridge but when firemen in wetsuits went round the corner they could see him and the dog perched on a well.

"We got a boat to them and took them to safety."

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