FOUR families flooded out of their homes by a burst water main are getting ready to spend Easter in rented accommodation.

Eight households were forced out of their homes in South Hinksey after millions of litres of water flooded the village in February.

But nearly two months on, four families are still unable to go home.

The Blay family’s home in Manor Road – across the road from the burst water main – was the first one hit. Mother-of-four Polly Blay said her family – Martha, two months, Harry, four, Charlie, six, and Lily, eight – would be spending Easter in a rented house.

She said: “Our home is still drying and we are renting a house in Cumnor for six months. We will probably be here until August.

“At our home all the plaster has been raked off and the kitchen has been stripped out. It is like a building site. I am still fed up with it. We didn’t move everything to our rented house so we have had to go to get things.

“The children are fine and have been less affected by it.”

The Blay’s cat Max, who was found perching on floating furniture, is still living at their South Hinksey home because of his age, so they are dropping by regularly to feed him.

Parish council chairman Maggie Rawcliffe said most of the families who had to move out were still living away from South Hinksey.

She said: “It will be a while before people can go back to their homes.

“But they are still part of the village community and people have been keeping in touch.

“When people start moving back we’ll help them get settled again.”

Thames Water confirmed it was paying for four households which were still in alternative accommodation. As well as some villagers being homeless, others suffered greater losses, such as Stacey Norris whose cat drowned in the flood.

The burst took place at about 7am on February 17 and the water supply was then turned off, leaving 2,500 homes without water.

South Hinksey was sealed off as repairs to the road took place. Oxfordshire County Council installed an artificial road leading to the village while it was repaired.

Thames Water officials said the pipe burst because of its age.

Spokesman Chris Rance said: “We are continuing to support the families affected by the burst water main in South Hinksey.

“We are working with them to get them back into their homes as soon as we possibly can and to offer any assistance possible.”

He added: “We are still working with each claim on an individual basis, but feel it would be inappropriate to comment on levels of compensation.”