FLOODING caused havoc in Weston Point on Tuesday when the drainage system failed to cope with a two-hour downpour.

Water gushed out of drainage grids, pavements turned to streams, and more than six inches of water, rubbish and silt poured into the cellar at the Weaver Hotel.

Landlady Jill Barnett said: 'Water just came gushing in through the ceiling, and there was nothing we could do to stop it.'

She immediately phoned the council to report the damage and register her complaint.

Jill said: 'It's not just stock that's been ruined. The cellar is damp and full of rubbish and silt. It's going to take hours to clean up the mess and it will have to be re-painted.'

Jill added: 'It's the council's fault. The brewery pays tax throughout the year ­ the council should maintain adequate drains. We've only been here since December, but locals tell me its not the first time this has happened.'

A spokesman for Halton Borough Council said yesterday: 'Our engineers are going out to the Weaver Hotel today to investigate the cause of the problem and carry out any work that is necessary.'

But inadequate drainage systems seem to cause regular problems in Weston Point.

Resident Jim Irish said two of the drains were refurbished a few months ago, but still can't cope with anything more than a light shower.

Jim said: 'In Tuesday's downpours the pressure build up pushed water back up the hill, forced one of the heavy metal grids out of place, and flooded the pavement.'

Stuart Joynson, who also lives at the bottom of Sandy Lane, contacted the council last year when water was flooding the yard in front of his ground floor flat.

He said the council claimed it was the landlord's responsibility to ensure there was adequate drainage to cope with any water that came into the yard.

Stuart added: 'Eventually the council installed a tarmac ramp, which has helped a little, but when the pavement floods the water still all comes down in to the yard.

'And now the council just says it can't be held responsible for heavy rain.'