BARNOLDSWICK councillors today called for a public meeting after seven homes were flooded for the third time in two years.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue were called to houses in Ghyll Meadows yesterday as residents tried to save their furniture from rain water pouring into their homes.

The latest rescue attempt came after thousands of pounds-worth of damage was caused in October 2000 when heavy rain flooded the street. Just months earlier the houses had also flooded.

The scenario repeated itself again this week despite residents and councillors complaining to Pendle Council.

Local councillors have now arranged a meeting, which is expected to take place this evening, where residents will be able to discuss what can be done about the problem.

Councillor Mary Norcross said: "I have been asking when the council is going to do something to prevent the flooding for a long time now and now it's too late because it has happened again.

"It's scandalous. I am not in Coates ward but everyone gets in touch with me about it.

"The grates in Barnoldswick are disgusting. They are always overflowing."

Coun David Whipp said: "The council has done spent thousands of pounds on drainage work to intercept water coming off Ghyll Lane but still more needs to be done.

"Locals said the work carried out after the last flooding had worked but this time it was something different.

"The houses are built in a dip so if the water is left to find its natural level that's where it ends up."

At the last West Craven Committee meeting a culvert in Meadow Way and Valley Drive, which had been damaged in two places, was linked to the flooding at Ghyll Meadows.

A report to the committee stated that the owners or occupiers of the land should made to repair the damage to the culvert but members of the committee decided a meeting should be set up between all parties, including the owners of the houses, contractors and insurers to find out who was responsible.

Coun Whipp, who helped residents with the clean up process yesterday, said: "That culvert would take that water at Ghyll Meadows away. This was my worst nightmare. I said at the meeting that it was fingers crossed that it doesn't rain heavily to flood Ghyll Meadow.

"In the short term we could dam the road. The water collects on the Rolls Royce playing fields and when it gets to road level it flows across it in to the houses.

"We need to dam the road so the water needs to get higher up before it can flood and this with an early warning system.

"If we can save half an hour and get pumps in it will give people the opportunity to save their possessions.

"A proper emergency action plan needs to be set up so when the alarm goes up people know what to do in terms of getting contractors out and getting the pumps there.

"I have been very frustrated standing in water up to my knees speaking to different council officers trying to organise things."

No-one from the council was available to comment.