ANGRY residents whose homes were flooded in freak storms have forked out hundreds of pounds to protect their properties.

Householders and business owners in Whalley New Road, Blackburn, have been in desperate need of a better drainage system following a period of bad flooding in June 2002. But they claim that a confusion over who is responsible means nothing has been done.

The problem area falls on the boundary between Blackburn with Darwen Council and Ribble Valley Council. United Utilities took over responsibility of the sewer drainage in the area in April of this year but residents said they were still waiting for help.

Pam Byrne has had to pay out £1,000 to have a commercial pump fitted under her house to lessen the flood damage each time the road floods. In storms last month, rain and sewage water flooded her house and destroyed all of her downstairs carpets.

Pam, 49, a custody officer at Greenbank Police Station, Blackburn, said: "It's a health hazard when raw sewage comes in. Whoever we ring passes the buck. This just can't carry on, we need help."

Terry Eastham, 47, owner of Escape hairdressers, says the drainage problems have got out of control. Last year they caused his new £16,000 car to be filled with raw sewage, writing it off. He said: "The floods just keep happening and it needs to be looked at. Our insurance is rocketing."

Graham Jagger, chief engineer at Ribble Valley Council said: "Improvements to drains have always been a United Utilities responsibility. We were only ever in charge of maintenance of the ones in our area."

A spokesman for United Utilities said: "An engineer has been down to the junction and we are keen to get to the root cause. We will be monitoring the area closely."