A COUPLE have spoken of their devastation after floodwaters wreaked havoc in their home for the second time in weeks.

Last month, heavy rainfall saw the drains outside Brian and Julie Pike’s home in Fishburn, near Sedgefield, County Durham, overflow, causing floodwater to rush into their living room, kitchen and hallway.

Carpets, furniture and walls were damaged, with the total cost estimated at £25,000.

And today (Thursday, December 20), the couple were hit again, just as the repairs were nearing completion.

They are calling on Durham County Council to take action and improve drainage on Harap Road, which had to be closed for several hours, while the water was pumped away.

“We have been complaining for about three years now and nothing has happened,” said Mr Pike. “It makes you wonder what you pay council tax for.

“We were just on repairing all the damage from last time and now this has happened.

“The walls have been re-plastered and a three-piece-suite was supposed to be delivered today. We were also meant to be getting carpets fitted in the New Year but this might have to be delayed now.

“God knows how much it will all cost.”

Mrs Pike said the couple had lived in Tyre House on Harap Road for 28 years but had only experienced flooding this year.

“It is upsetting as it is so close to Christmas,” she said.

“We have nine grandkids, two mothers and lots of relatives. We always have people over at Christmas time and this is the last thing we need.”

Mark Readman, Durham County Council highways operations manager, said: “We are currently working to deal with flooding in Harap Road in Fishburn, and have managed to remove water from blocked drains and clear the road.

“We have also distributed sandbags to residents to prevent further flooding.

“Our early investigations of this latest incident of flooding in the area suggest that a surface water drain is fractured.”

Mr Readman said immediate action had been taken to address the problem and further work would be carried out tomorrow (December 21).

“In the long-term, we are looking at redesigning the road surface to prevent flooding in the future,” he said. “This work is programmed to take place early in the New Year.”