A DECADE after families 'lost everything' to a deluge of rain, work has been carried out to protect the land against future flooding.

Residents in South Abingdon have been given a glimmer of reassurance after protection measures were put in place, reducing the risk of flooding for 240 properties.

Several streets in the town can now accommodate temporary steel barriers to ward off flooding, while a time frame has been announced for a permanent flood wall to protect properties further along the river.

However, an investigation into a more permanent alleviation scheme on the River Ock is still being investigated.

The Environment Agency has published a map of where the barriers will go, covering a 1.5km stretch along the River Ock including in Chaunterell Way.

Denise Fitzgerald, who lives in the road, was among those whose home was wrecked by waist-high flood water in July 2007.

She said it was 'absolutely reassuring' that defences can now be brought in to protect them when needed.

The 57-year-old added: "The whole street lost everything. It was devastating, we had £64,000 worth of damage. I lost my car; the water was up to the steering wheel."

Mrs Fitzgerald was visiting family with her husband Eddie when neighbours rang to break the news about the flooding, which affected 661 homes in Abingdon.

The NHS worker remembered seeing food floating around the hallway when she confronted the aftermath, realising that the force of the water had tugged open the fridge door.

She said the whole street 'rallied round' to help each other and credited Ock Valley Flood Group, namely active member Jim King, for pushing to get flood protection.

The group's chairman Richard Webber said he was 'delighted' something was finally being done after nearly ten years of 'patient' lobbying.

The barriers stand at one-metre high at their tallest point and will be stored in a warehouse; deployed only when flood warnings suggest homes are at risk.

In Abingdon, they would protect homes in Potenger Way, Chaunterell Way, Orpwood Way, Tower Close, Meadowside, Hermitage Road and Healey Close.

One home owner gave up part of her garden to allow the EA to clear room for the barriers, which are a short-term measure while the organisation investigates a more permanent solution.

A newsletter sent out by the EA earlier this month provides updates about permanent defences, which it is investigating in partnership with Vale of White Horse District Council.

It states that a 34 metre-long flood wall will be built to protect residents of five homes at St Helen's Mill in Abingdon, while investigations are ongoing into alleviation along the River Ock.

The letter reads: "Several options are being considered [for the Ock] including flood storage schemes, permanent defences and natural flood management.

"We have updated the existing flood models [and]... are now running scheme scenarios through our models."

The flood wall at St Helen's Mill has long-been in the pipeline but the EA has now released a brief timeline, stating construction will start next month and should be completed by July.

But flood group chairman Mr Webber, district councillor for Sutton Courtenay, warned that the more complex River Ock scheme may not come to fruition so quickly.

He said: "There are so many promises of big infrastructure - schools and roads like the Lodge Hill junction and Marcham Bypass - and I wonder if residents are getting a bit disillusioned.

"These are projects that have been promised liberally for decades and still haven't happened. There is a lot of cynicism about where the money is coming from."

The EA tested its temporary barriers with a mock deployment yesterday, and gave Nicola Blackwood, Mayor of Abingdon Alice Badcock and Abingdon Town Council leader Mike Badcock a tour of the barrier locations.

Ms Blackwood, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, said: "Residents want to know that preventative action is being taken to protect their homes and livelihoods should our area flood again. These temporary defences will help to provide that security."

She pledged 'not to let the pressure drop' on the wider Oxford and Abingdon Flood Alleviation Scheme, the EA's separate £120m project to protect Oxford from flooding.

Residents have raised concerns that the scheme may push flooding downstream to Abingdon, but the EA has previously insisted this is not the case.

Mike Badcock said: "I thoroughly welcome the barriers and the EA's positive actions. The residents we saw when visiting were very reassured."

Ock Valley Flood Group is keen to take on new members - anyone interested can find contact details by visiting ovfg.org.uk.