ANGRY residents are calling for action to be taken to prevent the flooding which has blighted their lives during the last couple of years. People living on the Burns Road estate in Royston have formed an action group, Burns Road Estate Against Flooding to

ANGRY residents are calling for action to be taken to prevent the flooding which has blighted their lives during the last couple of years.

People living on the Burns Road estate in Royston have formed an action group, Burns Road Estate Against Flooding to lobby the local councils and Anglia Water.

Chairman of the group, Jayne Docherty, said: "We want to bring pressure to bear on the water company and highways department to get a definitive answer as to why this flooding keeps happening.

"We don't necessarily want to apportion blame, but we'd just like some clear answers."

Floods in July this year, caused by a burst pipe, affected 50 residents in Burns Road, Houseman Avenue, Chaucer Road, and Jeffrey Close.

The area was also hit by overflowing drains in 2007, and Jayne said the group fears the situation will get worse in the coming years.

She said: "It has already been proved that the drainage system cannot cope with heavy rainfall, and with all the building work that is going on in Royston, the problem is only going to get worse.

"We can't go on living like this, wondering what state your house is going to be in every time there is a bit of heavy rain."

The group held its first meeting on Monday evening, and resolved to write to district councillor Fiona Hill to express their views.

They also plan to attend the next meeting of North Hertfordshire District Council's Royston area committee, on November 26, to put their case.

Representatives of Anglian Water will be at the meeting to answer questions about flooding in Royston.

Homes on the Twigden development were also affected by flooding in August this year.

At the time of the flooding, Anglian Water blamed the incident on a "substantial blockage in the sewer which was a build-up of fats, oils, and greases".

Royston MP Oliver Heald called for a "full report" into the situation.

He has since held meetings with Hertfordshire Highways to discuss their plans to improve drainage in the area.