AN investigation into long-standing flooding of a sewer is to be carried out.

Thames Water managing director Werner Boettcher promised to hold an investigation into the flooding in Acton before deciding if he will pay compensation to the council and residents.

Mr Boettcher met last Friday with council chief executive Darra Singh, local MP Andrew Slaughter, chief executive of Hammersmith & Fulham Council Geoff Alltimes, and industry regulator Ofwat, to decide who will pick up the bill for 18 months of flooding in Church Road and Ragley Close.

Ealing Council is demanding £60,000 from the water company to pay for the massive clean up operations it has been forced to carry out on a regular basis since August last year.

The council also wants Thames Water to pay out compensation to residents whose lives have been made a misery by the flooding.

Although Mr Boettcher admitted the matter was very serious, he said he would need to carry out an investigation before deciding what steps to take next.

Ealing's executive director for customer services Keith Townsend, attended the meeting, and said: "We fully expect to hear from Mr Boettcher very quickly and expect him to take full responsibility for these floodings that have caused so much misery to our residents, and also cost the council tax payer tens of thousands in cleaning up the area. We will not let this rest until both ourselves and our residents are properly compensated."

The meeting was chaired by Andrew Slaughter, MP for Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush.

Other issues were raised in the meeting including how the company handles customers immediate problems when flooding occurs, how it deals with the aftermath of flooding and how it could do more to prevent flooding incidents.

The reduction in water pressure which has been implemented by Thames Water in recent years was also discussed.

The reduction has meant that pumps have had to be installed and maintained in many blocks of flats which has placed an additional financial burden on local councils as the landlords.