BLOCKLEY residents are to carry out their own survey of a local water course in an effort to prevent future flooding.

About 50 villagers attended a meeting last Friday to discuss the future maintenance of the village brook and its 10 mill ponds.

During last summer's floods the brook, which has suffered silting problems in recent years, burst its banks. According to Cotswold District Council seven village homes were flooded, though residents claim more than that were affected.

Last Friday's meeting was called by Wendy Dare, owner of Mill Dene Garden and wife of Gloucestershire County Council leader Barry Dare.

She had been in touch with villagers in Chalford near Stroud, who have formed a management group to help maintain their brook. Once a year they hold a brook-clearing party for villagers and lay on a barbecue.

"I think we can have a bit of fun with this as a village. We need preparation and a lot of shovels," she said.

Water engineer Rupert Williams-Ellis, who lives in the village, said a survey of the brook was urgently needed to clearly identify those homes affected last summer.

Thames Water abstraction regulation manager Steve Tuck said the company may carry out a topographical survey of the brook, the results of which it would be prepared to share with villagers.

However, Mr Tuck said villagers would want a much more detailed survey.

Northwick Park estate owner Ian Bond warned that de-silting the pond and clearing the upper reaches of the brook could create a greater rush of water downstream.

"I just wonder how sensible it is to open up these ponds. "I think you will find it will create a greater risk of flooding lower down," he said.

Mr Williams-Ellis and water engineer Chris Walters, who also lives in Blockley, agreed to carry out initial work on a survey and liaise with Thames Water.

Mrs Dare asked residents to express their willingness to form a brook management group.