Flood victims in Albert Road have been battling for a week to dry out their homes after last Wednesday night’s heavy rainfall.

Carol Lenthall, a resident of 14 years, said the flooding was the worst she had ever experienced, forcing her to take her home off the market and move out temporarily.

The grandmother said: “The walls need replastering, the carpets are ruined, there is a crack in the concrete floor and the kitchen needs retiling.”

The constant whirring of de-humidifiers is wearing her down, and on Tuesday she said: “I’m fed up with it. Today is a cry day.”

MP Charlie Elphicke has pledged to help by meeting Southern Water.

The downpour on Wednesday night led to the overworked drains spewing out sewage into a foot-deep lake of rainwater.

Motorists continued to drive through, washing the water into homes until the residents stopped the traffic themselves.

The water receded by Thursday morning but the clean-up has been long, costly and de-moralising.

MP Charlie Elphicke is calling for re-investment into the drains by Southern Water.