Work has started on protecting an Abergavenny street which has flooded six times in the last 18 months.

Two properties on Station Road have had their living rooms swamped, two cellars have been deluged, structural damage has been caused and locals say their gardens turn into "moats" when the heavens open.

Residents in the 30 houses have made insurance claims amounting to around £200,000. After they paid £400 for surveyors to find the cause, Monmouthshire County Council agreed to undertake repair work that is costing over half a million pounds.

The problems were caused by cracks in a culvert which is used to drain rain water. This sits between the top end of Station Road, the A465 road to Hereford and Belmont Crescent.

Sarah Fowler, 35, a spokeswoman for the residents, said: “When we have torrential rain, the culverts can’t take the extra rain off the hills and it floods on to the road.

"The last time it flooded was September 8- a week before work started. We won’t have peace on mind until it’s finished."

Miss Fowler said that a moat forms around her house when it Floods.

The courtyard of the Great Western Hotel at the top of the road also fills with water.

Work is due to finish in January and will see culverts sunk below ground level.

These will connect to two open brooks, where water will drain from them.

Monmouthshire County Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for land drainage issues is Eric Saxon.

He said: “Residents of Station Road will not have to live in fear of flooding for much longer."

Castle Ward councillor Maureen Powell said that finding a solution to the problem had been a priority for her.

The project has used Assembly funding and Will cost £530,000. Monmouthshire County Council will contribute £79,500.

Disruptions to locals will be minimised with the use of a pipe jacking method that avoids lots of excavation- this will see hydraulic jacks push pipes down into the ground.