RESIDENTS in Bridgend, Stonehouse were furious on Monday when Stroud District Council provided them with sandbags but no sand.

Bridge End Court, just off Downton Road close to the River Frome, suffered flooding in a farmhouse and needed sandbags to prevent the water entering homes.

People were shocked to discover that they would have to pay for sand to fill the bags issued by the council.

In the end, the fire service brought full sandbags.

One resident told the SNJ that the same thing happened seven years ago and believes that the bags with no sand caused a lot of delays.

"We didn't have time to go and fill them up," she said.

"It must have happened to a lot of people.

"It's ridiculous."

A spokesman from Stroud District Council, said: "There is no statutory duty upon a local authority to help with the provision of sandbag protection, however, Stroud District Council has made the decision to offer some assistance to residents with what is likely to be a very difficult and traumatic situation they find themselves in.

"The council provides empty sandbags free of charge and has distributed supplies to builders merchants around the district.

"This is because the bags themselves are difficult to obtain at short notice, whereas the sand is readily available.

"In some circumstances such as the disabled and elderly residents at imminent risk of flooding receive filled sandbags, but the onus is on the rest of the public to take appropriate action to protect their property.

"In this case, they were not considered incapable due to age or disability to be able to help themselves so did not qualify for the provision of filled sandbags."