FLOOD victim John Anderson is beating the elements by fetching his morning post in a rowing boat.

His wife, Gil, is also using the unusual method of transport and rowed to Marlow on Saturday to make sure her students could take a drama exam. She often uses the boat to get down the 200 yard stretch of 'river' to do the shopping.

John, who is retired, of Riverwoods Drive, Marlow, said: "We were supposed to have 80 kids who should been coming down here to do a drama exam but my wife has had to row up there to go take the exam in Marlow.

"I've been coming up here to meet the postman and take the mail and milk back for my neighbours. We have to move our cars up above the water level but the houses are not affected by the water at all.

"There is no way of getting a car up to the house but you can wade out via some fields if you want to take the long way round."

The couple and residents of the other six houses in the private road are forced to leave their cars in the nearby rugby club car park.

John added: "We're not in distress or anything like that, as the people of Maidenhead are. People who live in areas where water gets into their buildings are much worse off than us. But we are in discomfort."

John said it was the second time this year that the Thames has caused the road to flood.

The floods caused traffic chaos in Cookham during the weekend where the only way in and out of the village has been over The Causeway, causing huge tailbacks into the village. There is now limited access via the road over Widbrook Common with Cookham Bridge still impassable.

The Environment Agency received 13 reports of property damage to homes in the Marlow, Cookham and Bourne End area but said the flood levels are dropping at a very slow rate.