OUR thoughts go out instinctively to the residents of South Hinksey who were woken yesterday morning by – of all things – a torrent of water described as being like “the River Thames” pouring through their streets.

A burst water mains was the culprit, leaving more than 10 homes in the village flooded, some to a depth of three feet. And further afield, it meant villages such as Kennington and Radley were deprived of their supply.

But naturally it is those poor people who have had to abandon their homes we feel most for.

As anyone who suffered in the 2007 floods will tell you, it is hard to recover from.

And they will be little comforted by the fact that Thames Water has accepted responsibility for the incident.

Right now, all they will be thinking is that what were once their homes are now cold, sodden and stinking.

But reassuringly, it is clear South Hinksey boasts a strong community spirit, and that together with the help of their neighbours, these currently displaced families can be made to feel that, while houseless, they are certainly not homeless.