A GROUP of elderly Farnworth neighbours say wellies and waterproof trousers are becoming the normal dress - because their street keeps flooding.

Residents of Westminster Avenue say they are regularly left stranded when an eight inches deep stream forms outside their homes because of a blocked gulley.

The bungalows, all occupied by pensioners, are council owned, but tenants say the council won't clear the offending grid because it doesn't belong to them.

In bad weather, residents say they are often left high and dry inside because the water is too high to wade through. And they now fear their gardens and homes just a few feet away could be damaged if it gets any worse.

Rose Davies, 66, who has lived in Westminster Avenue for nearly three years, says the problem has got steadily worse. And the recent wet spell has left her marooned in her house because the water is past her ankles.

"It is going to start seeping into my garden soon and my garden is only six feet away from my house," she said. "It's restricting our access and when we do have to go out we have to struggle and paddle through. Yesterday, the water was past my ankles and it is ruining my clothes and shoes."

Mrs Davies claims she has contacted bosses at the council, but there is confusion about who owns the grid causing the problem.

"We just want it fixed," she added. "There are 12 bungalows here and we are all stranded. I have a dog and he goes paddling in the water and the mud because I have to let him out, but then he trails it through the house.

"This is a lovely spot in the summer, but any time there is heavy rain we get problems like this.

"Relatives visited me from South Africa last month and I was ashamed of the mess. We don't live here rent free, so it should be sorted out."

A Bolton Council spokesman said that the land was unadopted, but as a gesture of goodwill they would sort out the problem.

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