Families hit by flooding

Fed-up residents living in a Walsall street constantly blighted by flooding were today bracing themselves for more chaos as further rain is forecast.

A huge operation was under way to drain flood water from Chatsworth Close in New Invention.

The cul de sac in Willenhall was submerged in almost a foot of water after heavy rain started at noon yesterday after the drains failed to cope with a bout of heavy showers.

This was despite Walsall Council sending a tanker to dredge the water a staggering 15 times last night.

And people are facing even more misery this evening – with more rain forecast across the region.

This morning tankers from the local authority and Severn Trent Water worked side-by-side trying to mop up the deluge.

Fed up father-of-two Mark Davis, aged 32, from Chatsworth Close was having to ferry his neighbours in and out of the street in his Land Rover.

He says the problem happens every time it rains heavily but fortunately the water had not yet seeped into homes. The van driver, who has even replaced his front garden with gravel because of the ongoing problem, said he and other residents are now calling on Severn Trent Water to increase the size of their drains and curb the flooding.

He said: "It's ridiculous. Everytime it rains this happens. We dread it coming because the drains just can't cope and we're left like this."

Councillor Ian Shires, who was helping out in the clean-up operation, said the floods were occuring because the drains have a small capacity and need to be replaced.

No one from Severn Trent was available for comment.