Christmas is supposed to be the season of goodwill - and that has proved true in one Oxfordshire village.

Residents of the flood-stricken Nuneham Courtenay were fearing that Christmas might have to be cancelled because some homes remain uninhabitable. Other people have struggled to replace furniture wrecked in the downpours.

But the generosity of scores of people - who have donated items ranging from furniture to food - has saved the day. Erica Simms and her partner Dean Jones, who live in the former village shop, say they have been amazed by the response. Ms Simms said many people donated items after reading about their plight in the Oxford Mail.

Ms Simms said: "We've had people from across the county donate things. They have been so kind and we appreciate it all so much.

"There's no way we could have had Christmas here if we had not received these donations, so we owe these people a huge thankyou.

"We wouldn't have had anything to sit on on Christmas Day or anywhere to eat. Christmas just wouldn't have happened without the help we've received."

Among the many items they have received are tables, chairs, three-piece suites, reclining leather chairs, cabinets, a tumble dryer, a washing machine and a microwave.

The ground floor of Ms Simms and Mr Jones's home was wrecked and the majority of their belongings destroyed in the storms in October. They have been struggling ever since to make the necessary repairs, and even received help from the Army. The couple had only just tidied up after being flooded during the first storms when the second downpour came. They believe it could be as long as five months before things are back to normal.

Ms Simms said: "We will have to have the whole of the ground floor of the house re-plastered, but right now we're just concentrating on Christmas. We will worry about the repairs in the new year."

The couple said they have been living in fear of further heavy rain since the storms devastated the South Oxfordshire village.

Ms Simms said: "We're not hoping for a white Christmas, just a dry one. I've never hated the rain so much as I do now."

Ms Simms and Mr Jones will be spending Christmas at home with their three children Boyd Parkinson, 14, Dexter Jones, nine, and Jayden Parkinson, 10.