A COUPLE whose home has flooded for the second time in the space of a month want a permanent solution to the problem.

Last month the Gazette reported the troubles of John and Juliet Battie, of Cowper Avenue, Tilbury, and how the clear-up had ruined their Christmas after flooding on Christmas Eve.

Storms meant water seeped into their house ruining their wooden floor, leaving the couple needing wellies just to get in and out of the house.

At the time, Mr Battie, 68, asked Thurrock Council for a pump to get water out of his front garden to prevent more damage. The council told him it didn’t carry such a pump in stock and that it wouldn’t have prevented the flooding anyway.

Water flooded into the couple’s home once again last week, and Mr Battie has insisted, once again, a pump would help the situation.

He said: “We’ve had various inspectors come along but nothing has happened apart from sand bags. That’s not good enough to stop the water, they need to install pumps.”

He added: “I’ve been wading around in my front room in wellies, it’s cold as hell, and we’re fed up with the whole thing.”

A council spokesman said: “Workmen visited the property on Friday, January 31, and immediately pumped out the flood water.

“Our engineers are due to meet with Mr Battie to agree the most effective course of action should the situation happen again.”