THE devastating floods which hit a Basingstoke suburb last year was one of the hot topics when four of the town's parliamentary candidates took part in a live radio debate.

Conservative candidate Maria Miller, Labour hopeful Paul Harvey, Liberal Democrats contender Janice Spalding and UKIP candidate Alan Stone took part in a live debate on BBC Radio Berkshire at the Top of The Town on Monday morning.

And the devastating floods in Buckskin, which saw a total of 87 homes evacuated in Sperrin Close, Grampian Way, Exmoor Close, Bodmin Close, Antrim Close, Prescelly Close, Quantock Close and Holyrood Court as groundwater flooding devastated the community in February 2014, was one of the main areas of contention.

An independent report published by Hampshire County Council in July revealed that a dormant spring, which became active, was part of the reason the area flooded, and experts concluded that surface water drainage needed to be reviewed to understand the underlying cause of the flooding.

During the live debate, flooded Bodmin Close resident Denise Walker spoke about how the flooding has affected her and her husband Mike, who is fighting a brain tumour and takes 164 tablets a week and four injections a day, and quizzed the candidates on what more could be done to stop it happening again.

The 63-year-old grandmother-of-six praised Labour candidate Dr Harvey and said that she had received no support from Mrs Miller.

Denise added: "I just want assurance but I don't know if they can guarantee it is not going to happen again. It happened so quickly and within hours I had lost everything after 44 years of marriage and we are on community handouts now just to get by with my husband being disabled."

Mrs Miller replied by telling Mrs Walker that she had been campaigning for Government investment, adding: "What was really important was to get central Government help and what I did was make sure I spoke to the Prime Minister direct and got help through the COBRA committee and I am pleased to see £2million coming from the committee to try and stop this happening again."

UKIP hopeful Alan Stone added: "We need to get better drainage there. What we need is for parties to work together instead of bickering", whilst Ms Spalding told listeners that large buildings such as the Airkix facility at Basingstoke Leisure Park, needed to stop being built and blocking the water table.

Dr Harvey told listeners that he was there from the first day the area flooded, adding: "They have a community spirit and soul in Buckskin and what the floods did was damage that. The community was pulled apart."

Other issues raised by residents across Basingstoke included immigration, the bedroom tax and housing.

Mike is currently battling a brain tumour and has to take 150 tablets a week and four injections a day.