RESIDENTS were suffering yet another flooding ordeal today as sewage and water wrecked their homes.

Torrential rain brought misery to people living in Oswaldtwistle and Rishton last night as some residents threatened to stop paying council tax until the problem was sorted.

Residents in Thwaites Road and Wordswoth Close, Oswaldtwistle, had just recovered from flooding in May.

Residents, some in tears, claimed that homes in that area have been flooded six times in the past year.

The last time they were flooded, Hyndburn Council promised a full investigation into the causes, and council leader, Peter Britcliffe promised to lobby hard if change to the borough's sewers was needed.

Today deputy Leader of Hyndburn Council, Jim Dickinson said he was "sympathetic" to the people who had suffered.

"We had men out working into the night. The rainfall was torrential.

"We have had cameras down the drains to examine for blockages and we have de-silted them.

"It is important to find a solution, I am very sympathetic to people who have suffered.

"We need to find out what is going on and we are in the process of doing that".

When asked if he knew of residents plan's to withhold their council tax, he said: "It would be inappropriate".

He refused to comment on whether victims would be compensated.

Janet Francis' home was flooded 13 weeks ago and new carpets have only just been laid. She said: "The council blame United Utilities, and they just said it was an 'act of God'. "I think it's time that Hyndburn Council did something about it, and I will be withholding my council tax as from tomorrow."

Nigel Dodd, of Wordsworth Close said: "Contractors who have been working on the drains have told us that there should be a storm drain on the estate, and that the drains are not large enough to cope with heavy rain.The council just doesn't want to pay for new drains."

Pensioner, Barbara Bentley has had no cooking facilities or carpets in her Thwaites Road home since the last floods. She said: "It's ridiculous. The drains just don't seem to be able to handle any water."

Her neighbour, Deborah Starkie, added: "This can't be allowed to happen again, because it will drive me mad.

"It's not even winter yet. The first sign of a downpour and the rain is up to my windows.

"I won't be paying any council tax or rent until this is sorted out."

In Rishton the heavy rain last night forced sewage on to the road and into houses in Spring Street, which was also flooded in May.

At one point the rain was so bad, a passing police car was brought to a halt and had to be towed away by a breakdown truck.

Speaking outside his home, where human excrement and dead rats had been swept on to the roads, father of two Frank Moran said: "This is a public health issue. Two types of hepatitis, B and C, are carried in human sewage -- and my carpets are full of it.

"We are considering taking legal action. It has had a terrible effect on the kids.

"My little girl, Kathryn, was hysterical the last time and my son, Adam has just returned from hospital.

"He has had to go and spend the night at a neighbour's house." Workers from Hyndburn Council had arrived at the scene and were offering alternative accommodation and a clean up service.

Peter Clegg, works manager for Hyndburn Council said: "We have done a survey of the sewers around Thwaites Road.

"We have also called in an external contractor they have de-silted the majority of the drains in that area."

Asked about Spring Street, Rishton, he said: "It was just the volume of water, we don't have any control over it. The sewers can't take that amount of water."

This morning United Utilities said the drains were the responsibility of the council.

The weather was also to blame for a power cut on Dunkenhalgh Way, Clayton-le-Moors.

Motorists were left in the dark after the road lights went out close to its junction with Blackburn Road.

And drinkers at the Volunteers Arms, Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors were spared the pain of watching Holland put two past England -- lightning put the pub's satellite TV system out of action as the goals were scored.