ELDERLY residents are finally settling in to life back at their nursing home in Witney, ten months after last summer's floods.

They have arrived back at Mill House in Bridge Street after extensive repairs and rebuilding work in the wake of serious damage caused when the river Windrush burst its banks in July.

Today Witney's new mayor Alvin Adams is to join staff and more than 30 residents in an official reopening of the home, owned by Southern Cross.

Many of them were unable to escape the building and had to be rescued by firefighters, police and passers-by on July 20. They were decamped to other homes owned by Southern Cross in Oxfordshire and surrounding counties.

Linda Moore, activities co-ordinator, said: "Sadly, several have died since, but it is a great relief to be back. The place is looking beautiful."

West Oxfordshire was the county area worst hit by the floods, with over 1,600 properties suffering water damage. Bridge Street was one of the worst affected.

Other properties in the street, including homes and businesses, are still being repaired.

Morag Crowther, who with her husband Peter runs a piano and cello business in the street, said: "It is still unbelievable. Some days down here it looks like white van street, with so many builders at work repairing places."

Others in the district are still living in caravans, including John Ellison, 61, who next week begins demolition of his timber frame home at Amberside, Abingdon Road, Standlake.

His home was overwhelmed when the nearby River Thames burst its banks, with water up to 15 inches high in parts of the house.