Flooded farmer still in caravan

Mr Benson has lived in the cottage for 15 years

A farmer whose home was decimated by the July 2007 flash floods says he is still living in a caravan because his insurance claim has not been finalised.

Phil Benson, 48, of Barley Cottage in Faringdon, Oxfordshire, was flooded when the River Thames swelled.

He said everything was stripped out of his home which is a building site.

His insurers Legal and General say they are awaiting the outcome of a planning application for an extension to his house to complete the claim.

'Personal life devastated'

Mr Benson said: "Just a couple of inches came into the house but because the walls are so old they soaked up the water up to about four feet.

"The furniture and carpets were ruined, everything had to come out and we had to dig up the floors."

His added that his entire house was damp and without heating.

Mr Benson's house is damp and without heating.

The Victorian property also has a burst pipe in the roof.

Mr Benson added: "It has hampered my business and devastated my personal life."

A Legal and General spokesman said: "We have been in contact with Mr Benson to get regular updates on the progress of the building work for the proposed extension and the required planning permission.

"Our loss adjuster recently visited the property and found that work on the extension had stopped because the planning permission is still awaited."

Last July, the government announced about £1.9m of funding to help rebuild Berkshire and Oxfordshire communities hit by the 2007 summer floods.

Oxfordshire County Council was the largest recipient with £681,820 from the Restoration Fund.