DURING the festive period pub manager Bob Morton expected to be flooded with customers.

Instead he found himself emptying buckets of water when the Kings Arms in Sandford-on-Thames flooded with five inches of water during what should be its busiest trading time of year.

Owner Chef & Brewer estimates the flooding – first in November then in December – cost more than £20,000 in repairs and lost profits.

Now Mr Morton is keen to stress that while the new carpets won’t be fitted until later this month the pub is open for business.

Mr Morton, who has worked at the pub for 15 months, said: “It has just been a nightmare, it took all our Christmas trade off us.”

Another Chef & Brewer pub – the Barley Mow in Clifton Hampden near Abingdon – was also flooded over Christmas, costing an estimated £20,000 in repairs and lost business.

General manager Emma Buse, said: “We’re up and running now and focused on ensuring we hit the ground running for 2013.”