ENGINEERS probing flash flooding which closed the main road into Filby twice within a week believe they have found the cause and identified a solution.

On Sunday the village suffered a major surface water drainage problem with the main road awash with a river of rain and completely impassable - as it was the previous Saturday - leading to lengthy diversions along narrow country lanes.

Postmaster Adrian Thompson said the flooding which came during a day of downpours was a major factor in the decision to cancel Sunday's fireworks' extravaganza, with no access to the village from the Great Yarmouth side.

The closure affected businesses on the main road but the real threat , he said, was to public safety with drivers re-routed along treacherous rural routes they may not be familiar with, and ambulances unable to get through in the event of an emergency.

'It is a real concern,' he said. 'Hopefully between the landowners and the highways we will get to the bottom of it. It is unacceptable in this day and age. No-one is blaming anyone for the weather but people need to look at where this water is coming from and why it is not getting away.'

Highways engineers were in the village on Wednesday.

A spokesman said: 'Our investigation this morning has confirmed the problem is an overflowing ditch/stream that runs behind the houses on the main road. This is backing up the road drains.

'It is the private landowners who are responsible for maintaining the ditch. However, the county council now has new surface water management responsibilities, and the flooding on the main road will trigger a further investigation to establish the reasons why the ditch is overflowing.'

Filby's fireworks display will now take place on December 9, boosting its Christmas tree fayre and festival. Mr Thompson said it was the first time he could remember the fireworks had been cancelled, the road closure being the final tipping point after a day of rain.

'It needs to be addressed with urgency,' he said.