FRUSTRATED residents whose gardens have been repeatedly flooded by water running off a saturated playing field fear the problem now poses a health risk.

For almost a decade, Paul and Anne Scott and several of their neighbours on Station Road in Sedgefield have been plagued by flood water seeping into their back gardens from a playing field to the rear of the street.

Yesterday (Saturday, May 18), following a prolonged downpour, the water reached well over knee height and stretched more than half way up their gardens.

Residents say it not an isolated incident, with large parts of the park and their gardens being submerged for months on end, as the water is unable to drain away.

Mr Scott, 68, said it was possible the stagnant water had been contaminated by dog mess and rats.

“It has killed all the conifer trees and many other plants in our garden,” he said.

“Children play in the park. Something needs to be done.”

Mr Scott, 68, has been writing to Durham County Council, which own the playing field, since 2004 but the authority has failed to come up with a solution.

He and his next door neighbour Frank Simpson, 74, have also collected the signatures of 38 neighbours who share their concerns.

Brian Buckley, the council's strategic highways manager, said: “We are sorry to hear the residents have not had a response to their problem.

“We would like to reassure them that their complaint has now been logged with the drainage team and will be investigated as soon as possible.

“We will keep them informed of developments.”