Angry shopkeepers have criticised a £1m High Street facelift after their businesses were flooded following a downpour of rain.
Traders in Walton had to call out the fire brigade to help with the mopping-up operation after flash floods struck at 9am yesterday.
They claimed the drains could not cope after extensive street work was carried out to modernise the town.
But Tendring Council said the problem was not down to the drains but the sewer.
Several inches of rain flooded into at least four stores.
Levett and Ward manager Bob Glasson blamed the new road layout for the flood.
He said the water went about a quarter of the way into his TV electrical shop.
"It's the drainage, it just can't take it," said Mr Glasson.
Alison Nelsey, who runs the Bottom Drawer, phoned the council to complain about the water which came into her business.
The High Street facelift has included removing kerbs and putting in new channel drains.
But Tendring Council said the sewers were to blame, not the drains.
Spokesman Mike Page said: "Strange as it may seem this is not about drains and drainage. It's most likely to be a capacity issue with the main Walton sewer."
Published Tuesday August 10, 2004
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