The farmer at Bevendean claims that his method of farming - vertical ploughing - is correct and "nothing could have been done to prevent" the flooding of the homes.

We went up to Bevendean on Monday afternoon to see what's what, and lo and behold the farmer had just started ploughing the field again, this time horizontally.

On whose orders, I wonder? I suggest the people who suffered get together and approach a councillor to take their case forward, if necessary to the local government ombudsman. It's long been known that horizontal ploughing helps ease the problem.

If, after remedial work is done, together with all possible measures, the houses are flooded again, then the council as landlords a moral duty to see that the fields in question are returned to grassland.

-Name and address supplied