HEAVY rains caused a fast flowing river of flood water from the former Sweetloves Reservoir site to wash through a nearby estate.

Concerned residents living on the Oldhams Estate in Astley Bridge feared their homes could be flooded following the downpour yesterday.

And today a river of floodwater again began pouring through the estate.

It was the latest problem to affect people living close to the site which is being prepared for 217 homes to be built by developers Barratts and Jones Homes. Over the past months the residents complain they have had to put up with noise pollution, lime dust blowing from the site and flooding.

Len Bradburn, who has lived on Nevis Grove for the past 10 years, said he could not believe his eyes when he saw the river of flood water running past his home.

He said: "The whole estate seemed to be affected.

"We've had to put up with a lot since they started to prepare the site for the development. It's been one problem after another.

"A representative from Barratts came down to take a look at the flooding. He told us that the company thought they had solved the drainage problem." And John Kelly, who owns a nearby newsagent, said he has spoken to dozens of angry locals concerned about the flooding.

He said: "I didn't see it myself, but from what I have heard from my customers the water was everywhere.

"That whole site has caused a lot of disruption. This is not the first time there has been flooding - I think it was bad last November."

And according to Mr Bradburn when there was the reservoir there were no problems of flooding - the problem has only arisen since work began on the site.

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