A PARISH council wants to know why its warnings were ignored after a village street was flooded at the weekend.

Coun Brian Biddiscombe told members at Gainford and Langton Parish Council that his property at Eden Lane had fallen victim to the rising water.

"There is still a problem with storm water drainage there," he said. "We ended up with water in our garage on Saturday night."

He told how the force of the water had lifted a manhole cover about eight inches in the air, causing a fountain so strong the water appeared to "run uphill" on the gentle incline of his driveway.

The problems of surface water run-off were brought to the attention of the authorities in 2002 when a developer sought permission to build houses on the site of the former Robinson's wood yard at the top of the lane. The parish council outlined its concerns to Teesdale District Council at that time, but heard that Northumbrian Water did not object to the proposals. This caused Coun Jo Fergus to comment that she hoped the planning officer's trust was not misplaced.

At the weekend Coun Biddiscombe had to move everything stored at floor level from his garage and was still clearing up on Tuesday. He and other residents have asked Coun Fergus to look into the matter.

"It's far worse than when Neville Court was built," he said, with members feeling it would further worsen when adjoining land at the former Walton's store was built on.

Coun Fergus confirmed her awareness of the flooding and of reported holes in the road that it had caused. "I have passed on their comments to Steve Foster in highways," she said. "He has also been informed by the police about the holes in the road and I believe they have been inspected. I have told him that the problem is worse than three years ago and he has promised to get back to me."

And hearing of the latest problems, the parish council wondered why the concerns appeared to have gone unheeded.

The clerk, Sybil Nelson, was instructed to write to the district council, Durham County Council and Northumbrian Water in a bid to get the problem resolved. She is to outline the fact that the parish council recommended storm drainage and that the recommendation was seemingly ignored.

Fraser Davie, spokesman for the county council, confirmed that the authority had been notified of the situation.

"We are in talks with Northumbrian Water and are investigating the source of the flood water with them," he added.