February 16, 2001 9:49: FED-UP residents were again trapped in their homes at the beginning of the week as water levels reached an all-time high.

The Pound, Marlow, was officially closed to traffic this week by Buckinghamshire County Council. The estate, built on the flood plain 35 years ago, has suffered restrictions for almost three months.

Some residents say their troubles started when Cable and Wireless dug up the road to lay fibre-optic cables.

Householders also claim Buckinghamshire County Council has done nothing to help them.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: "It all started when Cable and Wireless turned up we have had water in the road ever since."

Another resident said: "It is like World War One.

"It is disgusting but no one will take responsibility. They have cut the sewage off, cut the power cables and now this dreadful flooding.

"All the residents are mad because nothing positive is being done to fix it."

A spokesman for Cable and Wireless said: "We have genuine sympathy for the problems we caused through the water main fracture.

"When such an incident occurs we are obliged to contact the relevant utility to come and fix the problem, in this case Thames Water.

"We have no reason to believe they didn't do a proper job but nevertheless the repair is their responsibility."

Melville Wigley, of Trout Close, just off The Pound, was trapped in his cul-de-sac by the flooding.

He said on Tuesday: "People up here can't get out and a lot of them are quite elderly. My car is stuck in my garage at the moment. I don't need it yet but I will do soon for food and essentials."

A spokesman for Thames Water said: "All the damage has been repaired.

"There is still an awful lot of surface and ground water in the Marlow area due to the exceptional weather and we have been having trouble clearing the water."

A spokesman for the county council said that the flooding was caused by the heavy rainfall in recent months and not Cable and Wireless.

He said: "It may look like we are sitting and looking at it because, to be honest, there's not much we can do until the water recedes."

David Langton