Flood couple's housing fury (From The Bolton News)

Flood couple's housing fury

A COUPLE with three children are furious that they have not been re-housed after freak floods devastated their home.

Flood water caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to the council house in Longworth Road, Horwich.

Edward Ogden, aged 31, said he fought in vain to stop the water - which he says contained sewage - getting into his house, ruining carpets, furnishings and a newly-fitted kitchen.

Mr Ogden, a factory worker, lives in the house with his 28-year-old partner Sheila Bond and their children Neil, aged 10, Nichola, five, and 14-month-old Daniel.

But he is outraged at what he says is the council's "indifference" to his plight.

He said that the day after Sunday's flood the council offered alternative accommodation in Westhoughton.

But the house did not have a cooker and he was offered a camping stove instead.

He said: "We are desperate to get out of here, but how do they expect us to cook for five people on that?

"The carpets and furnishings have not dried out and the atmosphere is very unhealthy. We had to call the doctor out for Sheila after she had an asthma attack."

Sheila said: "I'm totally disgusted with the council for leaving me and my children in this house.

"Edward has been staying off work to help me cope, but now his job is on the line."

A council spokesman said they had done all they could to help.

She added that staff at the estate office had offered their own microwave and a mini stove that includes pan rings and a grill, to the family.

She said: "We must stress that alternative accommodation has been offered, but that it is only temporary. We want to get them back into their own home as soon as possible."

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