A RETIRED couple whose home was wrecked by floods two years ago are still waiting for vital flood defence work to be carried out after it was postponed for a second time.

Barney and Jennifer Bass were confined to the upstairs floors of their Wickham home that overlooks the River Meon for a year, while it was practically rebuilt around them after floods destroyed the downstairs of their riverside home.

Environment Agency chiefs promised the River Meon would be dredged last November to limit the chance of it bursting its banks again but that was delayed until spring.

Now the Bass' have been told the work to clear the silted-up riverbeds has again been put off until the summer.

Mr Bass said: "I just don't believe a word they say any more. For months they have been promising to get the river dredged and every time we see the deadline for work go past with nothing being done."