CHRISTMAS in the Diglis area of Worcester has been postponed until April following the recent flooding.

Residents of Waverley Street and nearby Cavendish Street have been struggling on, coping with sewage and water in their homes and without electricity, heating and sanitation.

But one resident says she is determined to have Christmas on Monday, regardless of the floods.

"I'm dreading my family coming," said Mary Dhonau, who will be cooking for at least eight on Monday.

"I sat down with my husband a few days ago and said I couldn't face it. But now we're going to have a convenience Christmas dinner and they're all going to like it or lump it.

"I was walking around Tesco the other day and there was Christmas music playing. I had to fight back the tears.

"Luckily our kitchen wasn't affected by the floods but there are other people who are spending the day in hotels.

"We decided we'd have a big party in April, when hopefully everything's back to normal.

"I think this has put my autistic son's progress back by six months."

The clean-up started earlier in the week when the floodwater had receded.

But while life returns to some degree of normality, things won't be the same in Waverley Street.

"Since October our pump was pumping out 2,600 gallons an hour, our foundations have been disturbed and we don't know what's going to happen," said Mrs Dhonau.

"This year has been the worst year we could wish for. Being flooded is more stressful than anything I've been through. There's so much heartache."