A PENSIONER claims her life has been made a misery for the last two years by drainage problems outside her home.Thelma Austin, 68, who lives in East Bergholt, said she has tried in vain to get Suffolk's highways department to do something to prevent water flooding her garden and reaching up to the walls of her home whenever there is a heavy downpour.

A PENSIONER claims her life has been made a misery for the last two years by drainage problems outside her home.

Thelma Austin, 68, who lives in East Bergholt, said she has tried in vain to get Suffolk's highways department to do something to prevent water flooding her garden and reaching up to the walls of her home whenever there is a heavy downpour.

She moved into the house around three years ago but has been unable to find any record of there having been a flooding problem before.

Mrs Austin, who suffers from high blood pressure, said the situation was making her ill with worry.

"A huge pool forms every time it rains, large enough for ducks to swim in. Every time a car goes past we get a solid sheet of water in the garden," she said.

"I was out there one day trying to build up some protection near the kerb and a car came past and I was soaked to the skin."

Installing a dropped kerb, which was expected to cure the problem, only made matters worse allowing the water to flood all the way to the side of her house, she claimed.

But now it looks as though a solution may have been found.

Richard Davis, assistant area highways manager, said: "There is a small depression in the road outside the property which collects water and forms a puddle in heavy rain.

"Suffolk County Council has looked into the problem and we believe a drain can be installed to take away excessive water. A more detailed survey will be carried out and a new drain will be installed providing a suitable outfall can be found.

"We regret any inconvenience caused to the owner of the property."