After storms caused flash flooding in the county, eight-year concerns of flooding and sink holes have been raised again.

North Allington in Bridport suffered from the downpour last Thursday, with the road becoming flooded, but this is not a one-off.

Resident Cathy Harvey said they have been in contact with councils and Wessex Water for eight years to fix the issues, but they are no further forward. In 2018 residents were asked to become flood wardens, but they are still waiting for reflective clothing.

She said: “In a good year, the road floods only twice or three times due to heavy rain.

“We were assured that the then West Dorset District Council were in negotiations with Wessex Water to replace the Victorian sewage system through North Allington.

“In many areas you can see that the road surface is sinking, causing subsidence and cracking. I voiced my concern saying, ‘one day a heavy vehicle is going to sink through as the road collapses underneath it’. The answer was ‘yes, we know, but there is just not the money available’. I was also told that work had been scheduled to start in 2019.”

Cathy’s husband Jon and neighbour Adam Gay go out in the pouring rain to try and keep the drains clear.

“The only thing to protect them from inconsiderate drivers is a rusty old flood sign and me waving frantically at drivers trying to slow them down,” Cathy added, “although I find having a video camera in my hand more effective.

“The infrastructure of Bridport sewage and road system need serious upgrading before we think of putting even more pressure on them by building more houses. We need to address the local housing problem for local people, but how can we with a crumbling infrastructure.”

A Wessex Water spokesperson said: “Joint drainage investigation work with Dorset Council started in 2019 and is ongoing, including CCTV surveys.

“Future work will be subject to funding availability and will be prioritised depending on the infrastructure required.”

A spokesman for Dorset Council said Wessex Water would only contact the council to book road space when work was planned and there is currently no water works booked in for the area in the next 12 months.