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3/6/2008

Flood evacuees celebrate return
By Jen Rivett
 
Dawn Elliott paints the face of Brandon Werescht
Dawn Elliott paints the face of Brandon Werescht

RESIDENTS celebrated being back in their homes after ten months of flooding misery with a street party.

There were barbecues, bouncy castles and bunting aplenty in Tower Close, Abingdon, on Saturday as residents hosted the party to thank those who worked hard to repair their flood-devastated homes.

They clubbed together to buy balloons and decorations and were given a grant of £500 from Oxfordshire Citizens' Housing Association (OCHA) to provide entertainment.

About 150 people turned up for the street's get-together, including the builders who had repaired residents' homes.

Resident Paula Norton said: "It has been a long and drawn out ten months and we are all keen to get our houses back to normal.

"This was not only to be a boost to the residents' morale but was also a chance to bring the street together."

Linda Joel, who is on the committee of residents who organised the street bash, said: "My main concern was to get everybody together as a community to celebrate the end of all the work that has been going on.

"Builders have been in the street for the past eight months and they have worked so hard, this was a way of getting together and getting them involved as well."

Mrs Joel, 54, whose home was under a foot of water and whose kitchen has only just been repaired, hosted a disco and karaoke, while her daughter put together games for the residents' children.

Two ponies made an appearance and gave small children rides along the street.

Other residents held stalls, selling bric a brac, refreshments and fresh cakes.

Television presenter Wesley Smith, from ITV's Thames Valley Tonight, who covered much of the July's floods, officially opened the afternoon event.

Mrs Joel said: "It was an absolutely wonderful day.

"Wesley was brilliant. He was only supposed to stay for an hour but he stayed for two hours.

"The whole event went so smoothly, it was lovely."

Any money raised will go to local charities.

In July, it is thought that more than 40 streets were flooded in Abingdon, with Tower Close being one of the worst hit.

Residents in the close are now all back in their homes but some people living in the town have not been so lucky.

Abingdon Town councillor Samantha Bowring has still not been allowed back to her home in Tuberville Close after it was badly flooded.

4:26pm Monday 2nd June 2008