Brighton residents whose homes may have been contaminated during last week's floods are forming an action group to try to ensure it never happens again.

Dozens of homes in Bevendean, Brighton, were swamped last week in a repeat of floods which have plagued the area for more than 30 years.

And this morning the water rose again, reaching pavement level before a tanker arrived to pump it away. Brighton and Hove Council is now urging residents to disinfect walls as a precaution against contamination.

A spokeswoman said any contamination would be "low level" and pose a minimal health risk.

The residents plan to set up an action group to demand the council takes steps to ensure the flooding is not repeated.

They claim a system of dams and a ditch to prevent water running on to their homes have been ineffective.

John Perriss, 57, of Bodiam Close, said: "We have lost everything on our ground floor and were not insured, meaning the bill could be well over £10,000.

"It's doubly bad for me because I work at the Harveys brewery in Lewes, which has been very badly flooded, but they have been very understanding.

"The rain came off the fields which had been ploughed up and all the surface water came hurtling down into the close and people's homes.

"It's not the water which is a problem but the mud. Cattle slurry was being spread on the ground a few weeks ago, which we think has washed into our homes.

"We have got bacteria and germs inside and the private insurance companies are saying they will have to bore holes into cavity walls and spray in something to kill the bacteria."

Ian Fitzgerald, 53, who also lives in the road, said tonnes of mud from the fields had been washed up in his back garden.

He added: "My concern is the water keeps coming back and nothing is done about it."

The council spokeswoman said: "We have been out at Bevendean constantly and there is no problem with the way the fields have been ploughed.

"We are advising residents to wash down walls with disinfectant as a precaution.

"Any contamination would be by bacteria which naturally occur in topsoil and would be low low-level and pose a minimal health risk."