PEOPLE living close to the River Frome in Frampton Cotterell are calling for action following last week's flash floods.

Residents living all along the stretch of river through the village are fed up with burst river banks whenever there is a downpour.

Last week the River Frome twice burst its banks at Nightingale Bridge, causing chaos for schoolchildren who use the pathway to walk to The Ridings High School.

Homeowner Marilyn Wright said: "This bridge did not flood for many years after the dam was installed - it now happens on a regular basis and when the flooding behind the dam is not anywhere near capacity.

"Dams have been created all along the stretch to Frenchay and they aregetting much worse."

She added: "This situation on the river cannot be allowed to continue when asolution should be relatively simple once the accumulated damns have been removed,followed by perhapsan annual check of the situation.

"Maintenance of the river should then be greatly improved and easier. Less silting will occur and less flash flooding."

Parish councillor Dave Hockey said: "What will it take to get action?"

Cllr Hockey is calling for the flood prevention dam at Tubbs Bottom, Iron Acton, which had been working effectively until recently, to be examined.

"We want to ensure that the full potential of the dam is used for preventing the now regular flooding of downstream bridges," he said.

Locals have lobbied Northavon MP Steve Webb for support and are appealing for South Gloucestershire Council and the Environment Agency to investigate.

The freak weather is also causing concern for birds which make their nests along the river.

Mrs Wright added: "Wildlife is often badly affected by flash flooding, particularly in the nesting period.

"I have seen moorhens' nests washed away and I have had to retrieve baby moorhens in a net when they have been washed down river."

Environment Agency spokesman Mike Dunning said the flood prevention dam had been operating properly over the last week.

He said: "We have looked at the dam's operations and there is nothing to suggest it was not working properly.

"If there was flooding down the river it could have been down to the surface water."

No one from South Gloucestershire Council was available for comment.