Flooding mystery baffles experts

The cellars of five of the houses are under water

Flood water which is swamping terraced homes is baffling owners and experts.

There is water inches deep in the cellars of five homes in Argyll Street, Northampton.

The cellars have been flooding for weeks, through some of the driest weather of the year - and nobody knows where it is coming from.

Now people living in the homes are demanding action to resolve the flooding.

Kathryn Baggarley bought her house six months ago but for the past three weeks the cellar has been awash.

We want to establish exactly who can help these people and do it as quickly as we can Anglia Water spokesman Andrew MacIntosh

"Its worrying. for a start it stinks and we are worrying what it is doing to the foundations and the walls.

"Obviously we use this space for storage so we have had to take everything upstairs, which is crowding upstairs as well."

With five of the terraced houses flooded, the water seems to be rising and two more are threatened.

Residents thought at first it was a burst water main.

Anglian Water scientists who have tested samples say it is definitely not tap water or sewage and there is no leaking pipe.

The Environment Agency, who is responsible for looking after local rivers, say it is not flood water either.

Clare Medhurst says they need to get to the bottom of the problem

Another resident whose house is affected by the flooding, Clare Medhurst, said they need some answers.

"We need to get to the bottom of what the problem is and what the source is and to identify where it is coming through so we can rectify what is happening," she said.

Anglia Water spokesman Andrew MacIntosh said they did sympathise with the householders.

"What we are trying to do is resolve it. We want to establish exactly who can help these people and do it as quickly as we can," he said.

They will be checking to see if the water is from an unknown natural source underground.

Meanwhile Miss Baggarley comes home and turns on the pump.

Within six hours the water will be gone but the next day it is back again.