Families living in a flood-stricken area have complained flash storms are making their homes a health risk.

Sussex was soaked with rain a week last Saturday but residents of Elm Road, Portslade, fared worse than most.

Three families have criticised the way Southern Water and Brighton and Hove City Council have dealt with the flooding.

They have seen their street and homes destroyed by floods three times in four years.

The families say sewage is the main health problem and drains are rarely cleaned.

Adele Davidson, 40, who has two children, said: "We were flooded in July 1999, August 2000 and now in 2002.

"Every time it happens Southern Water act as if it is a major surprise."

Lynn Brewer, 39, was sick because of the smell of sewage this year. In the first floods in 1999, she lost £17,000 worth of furniture and carpets. This year and last year, her carpet has been completely ruined.

Mrs Brewer, married to Alan, said: "I want Southern Water to pay for my carpet this time. It is foul sewage flooding our streets. The drains are not being cleaned."

Steve and Carmen Douglas-Howse want compensation from Southern Water for the inconvenience the past four years has caused them.

Mrs Douglas-Howse said: "On the Saturday, the water was coming into Mr and Mrs Brewer's house and we got what sandbags we had left and put them in their doorway. When we asked Southern Water for more, they refused to give them to us."

A spokeswoman for Southern Water said: "The terraced housing in Elm Road is at the bottom of a valley so everything drains down and causes problems.

"We are carrying out a £120,000 scheme in the road to intercept drains that run to the properties and divert them to a pumping station to prevent them clogging in bad weather.

"It will be finished in six weeks. Many residents have doors at ground level. We will pay for doorsteps to be raised by six inches to nine inches. We will do this for anyone who will agree to it.

"We will give sandbags to anyone who needs them on Elm Road. It is sometimes our responsibility and sometimes the council's as to which one of us provides them."

A city council spokeswoman said: "Southern Water is carrying out work to alleviate the problem in Elm Road and one of our highways team is meeting them to see if the council can do anything further.

"Sandbags would be given out by Southern Water."