A DRAINAGE problem at a club in Woolston has been causing horticultural heartache for nearby residents.

The car park at Monks' Club has been flooding since October, according to residents living in Wareham Close.

And they claim that ever since a new manhole cover was put in by the borough council, the water has been making its way on to their gardens.

Resident Brenda Littlewood said: "The car park at Monks' Club in Woolston used to flood, but in October the council put in a new manhole and ever since, the water has been flooding on to my garden and my neighbours'.

"I contacted the borough council and they said it was flooding because a plug had come out of the manhole.

"They fixed it this week, but they have said it is not a permanent thing and could happen again."

Work by the borough council has found the source of the problem, but the solution lies in the hands of the landowner.

A spokesman for the borough council said: "It is a private drain and roots, debris and silt within it are causing the flooding problems.

"It is the landowner's responsibility to clear it.

"The borough council has put in an expandable drain stopper as a temporary measure to keep residents' gardens dry. We have sent a specialist contractor to the club to have a look at the problem and CCTV cameras have been used to look inside the pipe.

"We are looking into the legalities of serving an enforcement notice on the landowners to remove the obstruction or undertake work to remedy the problem."

The club was unavailable for comment at the time the Guardian went to press.