THREE families who have suffered as a result of flooding on an Oswaldtwistle estate have decided enough is enough and have opted to leave their properties.

Last week it was announced that council tenants in the Wordsworth Close estate who had suffered could be rehoused by the council.

Today it was confirmed that three families had taken up the offer.

Councillor Jean Battle, portfolio holder for housing, said "We have had three requests for rehousing and two will be rehoused on the estate soon, with the third request being considered at the moment.

"In the short term. these properties will be left empty while options are being considered"

Forty families in Wordsworth Close and Thwaites Road who are considered to be at risk could be moved from the estate either temporarily or permanently.

Tenants who wished to be relocated would be moved to other houses in Hyndburn, although the exact location would depend on availability and personal merits.

The decision came after an emergency meeting where it was also decided that flood defence measures be put in place to reduce the severity and frequency of the fear of flooding.

Susan Catlow, secretary of the residents' association, said: "A lot don't want to move but they are having to do for the simple reason that the housing is becoming unfit to live in.

"I can't speak for everyone but generally there seems to have been a mixed reaction to the rehousing offer.

"This is mainly because people have children at schools here and it is too far for them to move to Huncoat, Church or Clayton-le-Moors where there are vacant houses.

"There is also the question of what will happen to the vacated properties as work will have to be carried out to solve the flooding problems if families were to move back into them.

"The families who are moving out have decided enough is enough but they plan to move back in once the work is done."

John Schofield, Hyndburn works technical manager, said the department received 33 reports of internal property flooding last Monday.

He added: "In the short term, while awaiting the major investigation by United Utilities, the Council is looking at the design of some additional alleviation measures.

"We have also arranged for all highway gullies and housing drains to be cleaned out again in the Wordsworth Close area.

"A sewerage scheme in the West End area of Oswaldtwistle is due to be discussed soon at a meeting at United Utilities and the Council are looking forward to a positive outcome from this.

"Council and United Utilities staff will then visit residents suffering from flooding from sewers to discuss their problems in more detail."