VICTIMS of the July floods - still demanding answers about why it happened - will tomorrow get a chance to air their opinions.

Hundreds of people are expected to attend a public meeting at Abingdon Guildhall, at 7pm.

The meeting has been called by MP Dr Evan Harris as an opportunity for residents, many of whom are still displaced from their homes, to talk to the different agencies under one roof.

He said: "The aim is to ensure the Environment Agency hears the concerns and tries to address some of the questions of the residents in Abingdon who were severely affected by the recent floods.

"I want them to hear directly from the people, the strength and feeling there is.

"What worries me is that flood prevention steps will take a long time to plan, a long time to cost and a long time to approve, and I'm not sure we can afford to wait that long."

More than 600 homes in the town were flooded when the three rivers in Abingdon - the Ock, the Stert and the Thames - burst their banks.

Answering questions will be representatives from Oxfordshire County Council, the chief fire officer for Oxfordshire, John Parry, representatives from the Environment Agency, the Oxfordshire emergency planning officer, John Kelly, and officers from the Vale of White Horse District Council, who carried out a review after the floods.

Samantha Bowring, who represents Abingdon Ock Meadow on the Vale council, was among those flooded out. She is still staying in rented accommodation in Cotman Close while her home is repaired.

She said: "People have a lot of questions and we needed to give them the opportunity to get some answers.

"The Environment Agency will be doing a presentation on what they think went wrong, why it happened and why it's not going to happen again - which, certainly for me, is what I am most keen to know."

She added: "People were very angry at first, and wanted someone to blame. They are generally a lot calmer now.

"I'm really hoping that because there has been a gap, it will be more constructive. But I am concerned it could be quite a tense meeting.

"There might be some who are still emotional and frustrated."

Michila Lomas, whose home in Turberville Close was flooded, said: "The thing we need to know, but can never be sure about, is whether we are going to flood again. I don't think anyone can give me that answer.

"My main concern is that I haven't seen anyone dredging rivers since it happened.

"However, people are more angry now with their insurers and are waiting for work to start."