FAMILIES are only just moving back into their homes after torrential downpours caused flooding chaos in July.

Residents in Greasby say they are "at their wit's end" dreading rainfall that continues to devastate their properties.

Many have taken time off work with stress as they try to re-build their homes and make endless phone calls chasing up insurance companies and builders.

One family have even installed their own garden pumps to prevent gallons of rain and farmland water from pouring into their home.

Six months ago, the Globe reported how 30 minutes of freak storms drowned out pavements and driveways.

Firefighters and wellington-wearing residents armed with brushes and shovels desperately battled to ease the pressure on the drainage systems in Arrowe Road, Rigby Drive and The Croft.

But the aftermath has left householders "at the depths of despair" and heavy rainfall at the beginning of December has added to the problem.

Mum-of-three Yvonne Atherton from Rigby Drive said that many of her neighbours are only just moving back into their homes after extensive flood damage forced them into temporary accommodation.

"There is inadequate drainage on a farm at the back of the estate and because of this our house has effectively become the drain for more than 30 acres of land plus a pond.

"We even found fish swimming around in puddles after they were submerged in the downpour."

She added: "The last five months have been really miserable and stressful with building work and hassle with insurance companies, and to top it all, we are trying to get plans put in place to make sure this doesn't happen again in the future because unlike other flooding where the rivers burst their banks, this type of flood is wholly preventable."

The council says Leverhulme Estates is responsible for the farm land and the drainage problem and are looking to serve a writ against the company under the Land Drainage Act, 1991.

The move has been supported by Liberal Democrat councillors Jean Quinn and Gill Gardiner.

Cllr Jean Quinn said: "This is an intolerable situation for local residents.

"We are pressing council officers to take action and they are now investigating serving a notice to require the landowner to carry out work to maintain the flow of the water course.

"Unfortunately legal action is likely to take quite a while to be effective."

And David Green, director of technical services said: "Although Wirral Council are not responsible for this issue, as the land causing the problem does not belong to the council, we are aware of the issue and are doing all we can to help the residents of Rigby Drive."

A spokesman for Leverhulme Estates explained that inadequate drainage is a national problem highlighted in a recent report by the health authority chairman who is calling for stronger leadership and forward planning by local authorities.