FLOOD-RAVAGED homes in one part of Worcester should escape further misery after badly-clogged drains were finally cleared.

Several households in Spetchley Road suffered tens of thousands of pounds of flood damage last July when streams of water cascaded down the hillside from the Worcester Woods Country Park - behind County Hall - and into their homes.

Spetchley Road people, led by city council representative Councillor Mike Layland, have been lobbying for Worcestershire County Council to carry out clearance works on the drainage systems in and around Nunnery Wood.

The flooding had been caused by twigs, branches and other debris clogging up the various storm drains and gullies around the wood over a number of years. But, following a £1,000 clearance job by the county council, the drains are now running free once more.

"There's no volume of water collecting there now, even with all the weather we've been having," Coun Layland said. "We have now achieved what we set out to."

Coun Layland said that in July it had taken just two inches of rainfall to cause the flash-flooding which devastated properties on Spetchley Road.

He said regular maintenance must now be undertaken by the county to ensure the problem does not return - sentiments echoed by Keith Burton, chairman of Spetchley Road Area Residents' Association.

"The whole situation stemmed from a lack of maintenance of all the ditches in Nunnery Wood," Mr Burton said. "It's been going on for about 10 years, but July was probably the worst flooding we've seen. It's taken constant pressure from Mike Layland and also from the residents' association to get this done.

"But unless these ditches are maintained regularly then the various grids and gullies are going to block up again."

County council cabinet member with responsibility for the environment, Councillor Derek Prodger, said he had listened to resident's concerns and was addressing the problem.

"I had a complaint from Mike Layland late last year and I got my team up there to clear all the debris out," he said. "I'm delighted we were able to help. I'm going to have the drains inspected every three months."