FINDING a different route across the city was the biggest challenge facing most of us when Worcester was hit by floods in autumn and winter last year.

But that was small beer compared to the folk whose lives were disrupted so badly by the rising tide, then found that the devastation was followed by frustration. One year on, some of them still can't put the trauma behind them.

This is brought to mind, today, by the experience of single mum Diane Moss, whose Diglis home was flooded with riverwater and raw sewage 12 months ago.

You might remember Diane. Her story appeared in the Evening News last December, when she was sent two council tax bills, one for the house she couldn't live in, the other for the rented accommodation where she and her young family had been forced to move.

Now she's been sent a court summons for non-payment of council tax, and she's understandably angry at what we'd describe as common sense and fair play gone bonkers.

We'd like to think that the city council will see it the same way, and make sure she never has to argue the case before magistrates. It really wouldn't do the council any favours.

Especially not in the light of its comments this time last year, when the head of revenue and benefits admitted to waiting for Government guidance as to whether flood victims were liable for second payments.

"We don't think it's right," Rob Appleby told us then. Spot on.

We think the council should take its cue from him.