A couple is suing Devon County Council after claiming £35,000 in damages from floods which destroyed part of their home.

Anne and David Strobel say it took the council three years to repair a burst pipe that was leaking water on their property in Morthoe.

The pair say the council will not give them any compensation because, despite fixing the pipe three times, it now says it does not belong to the local authority.

Devon County Council says it is unable to comment due to ongoing legal action.

Anne Strobel, 71, says the council was first called to repair the pipe in 2018, but says because it was “old and brittle” it kept breaking.

Mrs Strobel says the Highways Office told the council’s repair team to put a sandbag on top and fill the road back in.

She said her husband had begged them not to do this because he knew the impact it would have on their nearby home.

The couple says the lower floor of their home had to be completely dismantled and the concrete floor broken.

Mrs Strobel said they “were horrified” when water started seeping through the floor.

The couple say they were not insured for the damage and have been fighting to get compensation from Devon County Council.

The couple is now suing the city in civil court, with a date set for February.

David Strobel, 76, said if the council had fixed the problem correctly the first time, “none of this would be necessary.”

Mrs. Strobel says she will not give up, describing it as “a matter of justice.”

In a statement, Devon County Council said: “We are unable to comment on individual cases which are subject to ongoing legal proceedings.”