VILLAGERS have been left counting the cost after their homes were flooded for the first time in nearly 50 years.

The last time the springs came up under houses in Martinstown was 1956, but the recent heavy rain has caused them to well-up again and come through the floorboards.

Three households are still living on the first floor of their cottages near the Brewer's Arms pub nearly a week after three inches of water came rushing up through the floor. Other households near the pub were also badly affected and all the residents are still relying on pumps to suck the water from their homes.

Silvia King, who lives in one of the cottages affected by the springs, said: "The water table rose up after it rained very, very quickly and suddenly there was so much water everywhere.

"It is starting to dry out now, but if we have more heavy rain it will happen again.

"Fortunately we had time to get a lot of things upstairs, but most of our furniture is on bricks. It hasn't been a very good start to the year."

All the houses have had to turn off their gas supply and use cooking equipment supplied by British Gas.

Pumps from West Dorset District Council are still working to take the water out, but villagers fear it could be a long time before their homes are dry.

Jane Rootham, who lives in one of the cottages, said: "The water was two or three feet deep out at the back - it was a total nightmare. I managed to get most of my possessions upstairs - it looks like a jumble sale up there.

"I couldn't have coped on my own, but my grown-up children and other villagers came to help. I can't praise the Environment Agency and the fire service enough. They really turned up trumps."