FAMILIES living in a row of four houses on a Walthamstow street have slammed Thames Water after all their basements were flooded following a mains leak.

Households in Cedars Avenue say water first started to seep into their homes from underneath the floor about a month ago.

Resident Cathy Burns, 50, said she was told by a Thames Water engineer that the most likely cause of the problem was a leaking pipe on nearby Priory Avenue - but she claims the company has refused to formally accept responsibility.

Ms Burns said: "It's just been a total nightmare.

"When you phone them up one lot of Thames Water staff say it's one thing, then others blame something else, but they just won't take responsibility.

"First we were told because it's on our property it's our responsibility, then they said it was a sewage leak and nothing to do with them, and then we got another lot of excuses.

"The flood has ruined some food we were storing down there, and it's the same with my neighbours. They've lost loads, including furniture. And yesterday all our electricity went off. It's really quite dangerous.

"It's starting to stink too. But Thames Water just aren't doing anything about it."

The problem has also conjured up a sense of déjà vu for residents - a similar flood happened five years ago after a pipe burst in the street.

After a battle with households, Thames Water eventually accepted responsibility and paid out compensation for the floods.

Residents in the street want the company to take responsibility again this time.

Ms Burns said Thames Water initially refused to pump the water out of their cellars, although its workers later did do so.

But the company has apparently said it will only investigate the cause of the leak if a claim for compensation is submitted.

The Guardian is awaiting a response from Thames Water.

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