OXFORDSHIRE emergency officials today warned householders to remain on guard against flooding as rivers across the county spill over their banks - with more rain forecast tonight.

A number of roads in the county are already affected by flood water, including the B4044 between Botley and Eynsham and roads in Islip, Minster Lovell, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Challow and the road between Burford and Carterton.

Flood watches, the lowest level in the Environment Agency's advance warning system, are in place on the rivers Thames, Cherwell, Evenlode, Ock, Ray, Thame and Windrush.

John Kelly, the county council's emergency planning officer, said: "We're keeping an eye on this at the moment. We have circulated the flood warning around all the agencies who would need to respond. We will take positive action on warnings and severe warnings and provide whatever help we can.

"River levels are high and the flood plains seem to be working in many places, so let's hope the forecast remains benign over the next week or so.

"To deploy resources now, we will only get them in the wrong place or we'll just frighten people."

Environment Agency spokesman Tim Abbott said: "Rivers across the Thames region remain high and out of banks in areas, and with more rain forecast this week, the agency is urging people to remain vigilant."

Around Oxford, much of Port Meadow is under water and water levels are high in the Seacourt and Bulstake streams in west Oxford.

Elsewhere, land is flooded alongside the Cherwell at Heyford Bridge and Thrupp, the Ray in Lower Arncott and Islip, and down the Evenlode valley in west Oxfordshire.

On Saturday, there was a sense of deja vu in two villages alongside the Evenlode after it burst its banks.

Three houses in Ascott-under-Wychwood were marooned as rising water threatened the properties in Gypsy Lane.

And 200 sandbags were put out around the Old Prebendal nursing home, in nearby Shipton-under- Wychwood, where residents only returned last month, after it was flooded last summer. The cost of repairs and loss of income was estimated at £2.5m.

Hilary Biles, the villages' district councillor, said: "The water level was about two feet away from creating problems for the Old Prebendal, so it was a precautionary measure.

"In Ascott there were serious worries for a while but, fortunately, the river level receded."

For the latest information about flood alerts see www.environment-agency.gov.uk or call 0845 988 1188.

Source: Witney Gazette