ELDERLY residents fear they could be left homeless again if a brook near their sheltered housing is not cleared of debris.

Dozens of people living in Hanover Gardens in Bicester were devastated when the River Bure burst its banks on Christmas Eve 2013 and water levels surged to 10ft.

Four years on, residents have called for urgent action as bottles, beds and weeds are choking the brook, leaving households fearful a repeat of the flooding.

Helen Robinson was one of about 50 elderly people who was rescued by firefighters from her ground-floor flat in the Manorsfield Road site.

She said: "I just remember the water was right up to my knees.

"There was an almighty bang and we were left in the dark.

"It was Christmas Eve so we lost our tree and all the presents were ruined, I remember seeing my things floating up the passage.

"We were one of the first houses back in and that was in May, we spent six weeks at the Littlebury Hotel – but one room for two people was just horrible for that long.

"It was all very traumatic."

The severe weather hit the county overnight between December 23 and 24 that year, and residents woke to the devastation at about 4am when the water was between six and 12 inches within the buildings.

Those living near the brook now fear that, as bad winter weather draws near, the poor state of the river could have the same end result.

They have called for it to be cleared as soon as possible.

Another resident at Hanover Gardens, Nancy Brook, said: "It is scary, I don’t know what I would do if it happened again – the residents went through enough last time.

"It is just all covered up with weeds and rubbish, tonnes of bottles and at one end there is even a bed and chairs clogging up the grates."

The residents say they have struggled to pin down who is responsible for clearing the brook and have been in touch with nearby Sainsbury's as well as Cherwell District Council with little luck.

Angela Wallis added: "We have lived here coming up to three years and the brook is now absolutely covered over with weeds and all sorts of bits and pieces.

"We have tried to get in touch with the owners – we think Sainsbury’s – with no luck.

"So we are at a loss with what to do.

"Our residents are worried with the bad weather setting in and we don’t want to flooding to get as bad as before."

Mrs Robinson added: "I think if the brook was cleared it wouldn’t flood again and the water could just run straight through.

"Otherwise there is nowhere else for the water to go."

The River Bure was diverted from one side of Manorsfield Road in 2010 to the other to make way for the new £70m town centre redevelopment which included Pioneer Square and Sainsbury's.

After being contacted by the Bicester Advertiser, Sainsbury's spokeswoman, Alice Carty, has confirmed the superstore is responsible for the brook.

She said: "We are aware of the issue and we have arranged for an external company to clear the stream."

She did not say when the clearance was set to take place.