HOUSEHOLDERS along the river Roding could face a second year of flooding after nearly half of October's average rainfall came down in one day.

Some 26mm of rain fell on Sunday, prompting the Environment Agency to put the River Roding on flood watch. By Monday night the Roding's category was upgraded to flood warning as the rains continued.

The monthly average for London is 60mm and the Met Office predicts more rain will follow this week's dowpour.

By Tuesday morning the Transco equipment depot at Snakes Lane East, Woodford Green, was flooded. Ominously for residents living in the flood zone, this was the first building to be overrun by water in last year's deluge.

But as the Environment Agency issues flood warnings, residents near the banks of the Roding feel Redbridge Council and the Environment Agency have washed their hands of the problem.

Keith Money, who had to evacuate his family in the dead of night last year from their Chigwell Road home, said he did not believe enough had been done to prevent the river flooding.

He said: "I don't know who is taking responsibility for stopping this happening again.

"The council says it's the Environment Agency's responsibility and the Environment Agency says it's the council's.

"They've had a whole year to try to stop the floods happening and I can't see that anything has been done."

Last year, Mr Money, 35, followed the Environment Agency's advice and sealed his front door and air bricks but the water still invaded his home.

He said: "We blocked up all the air bricks with plumber's sealant and sealed the front door but the water came in under the floorboards.

"It just flooded through, there was nothing we could do. I know it means spending public money but something has to be done to help us."

And while a spokesman for the Environment Agency maintained that its advice to make houses water-tight was adequate action on its behalf he also confirmed that household flooding was often unpreventable.

He said: "If you are flooded by four feet of water it is not defensible. Flooding is a naturally occurring misfortune. "

So far the Environment Agency has carried out several surveys and routine river maintenance and will be looking into providing improved flood defences some time next year. It also plans to repair the embankment breach next to the Baptist Church in Woodford Green early next year.

Redbridge Council is continuing to monitor levels of the river Roding and has carried out extensive surveys of the borough's drainage system. It has also commissioned Thames Water to undertake studies.

The council also confirmed it had a supply of sandbags should the Roding burst its banks.

By.Sara Dixon