Flood victims left homeless when a rubbish-filled brook burst its banks flooding two Halesowen streets and 20 properties, are considering taking legal action over the breach, it emerged today.

Residents in Woodman Road, Halesmere Way and Honeybourne Road say the floods, which sent water pouring into the homes, should have been prevented.

They are threatening to take Dudley Council and the Environment Agency to court after each authority denied it was responsible for maintaining Illey Brook. Householders claim the stream was overwhelmed in last weekend’s torrential downpours after a build-up of debris created a temporary dam.

They have accused the council and the Environment Agency of ignoring repeated warnings the brook was full of rubbish and needed to be dredged.

Families who have been forced to stay with friends and in hotels since the floods will pack into Manor Way Primary School tomorrow evening to discuss litigation against both groups. Councillor David Vickers, ward member for Halesowen South, confirmed he will attend the meeting, which gets under way at 7pm.

Environment Agency spokeswoman Lyn Fraley angered victims of the flood last week when she said that “primary responsibility for maintenance rests with the owner of the land next to the river”.