OAP left '˜marooned' in his home after torrential downpour

Sam Waim watched in horror has his garden in Cauldwell Place, South Shields, began filling with water during Monday’s downpour.

Thankfully the water has yet to enter 79–year-old’s house. However, the retired joiner has had water issues for many years and believes it’s been caused by inadequate pipe work and lack of drains in the street.

Council bosses say the flooding is being caused by ground water.

Mr Waim, who is married to Wilhelmina, 78, said: “The water is right up to the house. My front garden is basically a pond.

“It’s not entered the property so far, but if it rains much more then there will be no stopping it.

“I know for a fact it’s under the house though,

“I am basically marooned, I am like on an island surrounded by water.”

In the past, Mr Waim used his own pump to remove the water but says it’s now getting too much for him.

He said: “I am just fed up with it. I am 79 and it’s a bit beyond me really to have to shift the water. I’ve spent all day moving hundreds, probably thousands of gallons of it.”

A spokesman for the South Tyneside Council said: “We believe that the flooding at the property in question is a result of ground water.

“While we have every sympathy with the home owner’s predicament, we have carried out minor highways works in the past to help improve the situation and also carried out surveys of our drainage network in this area to check there are no defects.

“Furthermore we have worked with our colleagues at Northumbrian Water who have also checked their assets in this area and could find no problems either.

“While the council and its partners can offer advice, unfortunately this is a matter for the home owner to resolve.”