RESIDENTS in Westford, Rockwell Green, were expressing fears on Boxing Day over blocked drains causing a flooding threat to their homes amid heavy rain forecast to fall throughout Wednesday (December 27).

The UK Met Office originally issued a yellow weather warning for the whole of Somerset on Wednesday as it said Storm Gerrit was likely to bring heavy rainfall.

However, the warning was later withdrawn, although it warned of severe winds in coastal areas from Devon around the tip of Cornwall and along the entire South coast.

The worst of the rain was instead expected in Wales and further north as the storm began to swivel northwestwards away from Somerset.

The Met Office still predicted rain and strong winds all day long in the Wellington area, starting on Tuesday evening and continuing for nearly 24 hours.

It left Westford residents, who saw dramatic flooding as recently as mid-September, asking questions about the state of roadside drains as photographs showed one looking like a spring with water spouting upwards.

Another drain on the opposite side of the road was on Tuesday already surrounded by a small flood because the water could not drain away.

One resident told the Wellington Weekly: “At least when it floods now we will already know why. I do not understand why the council cannot just keep the drains unblocked which might not stop the floods all together but it should at least help make it less bad.”

Wessex Water has also put up roadside warning signs in Westford to advise it will be carrying out sewer work on January 15.

The Wellington Weekly has asked Somerset Council to explain why the Westford drains had not been kept clear.