by Alan McGuinness

A couple's first home has been flooded with raw sewage three times in two months - and they fear it could happen again.

Katie Freeman and Steven Jeffrey were forced to move out of their home in Abbey Road, Strood, and live with Katie's mother, after the first deluge in November.

The couple, who are planning a wedding in September, say it ruined their first Christmas with their one-year-old daughter Heidi.

Two further floods in January meant the couple have had to spend almost six months out of their home, which Steven spent months working on.

They are currently living in rented accommodation in Liberty Park, Wainscott, while the Abbey Road property dries out and is redecorated.

Southern Water has offered the family three flood payments, totalling less than £200, and a further £200 as a goodwill gesture, but the couple don't think it's enough.

The pair came home from work at about 6pm on November 29 and found water gushing through the house and out of the front door.

Miss Freeman, 28, said: "There was water everywhere. I just didn't know what to do."

The couple claim Southern Water took three hours to come to their house, when they said they would be out within the hour.

They also claim the company took a week to come out and do a full clean-up, which is a health and safety requirement.

Miss Freeman added: "They say they have fixed it, but they still can't guarantee it won't happen again.

"They say they're not liable, but if they fix the problem then surely they're liable?"

Mr Jeffrey, 31, said: "It's horrible, it couldn't have come at a worse time."

Builders have begun working on the house after it finally dried out, and it is hoped the family will be able to move back in a month.

A Southern Water spokesman said the company had apologized to the family and advised them to continue to liaise with their insurance company to get compensation.

"We have carried out CCTV surveys and removed a blockage of cement or scale that found its way into the sewer system and fixed a broken section of pipe.

"Water companies are not legally liable for sewer flooding of this kind, but we have refunded Miss Freeman's wastewater charges and given her a goodwill payment in recognition of the distress caused."