Flood waters might have receded in most parts of the district after record rainfall earlier this year – but one area is still underwater.

The area know as Bell Meadow at the St Michael’s end of Verulamium Park is still flooded and water is continuing to run across the pathway and pool around a weeping willow tree. Parts of the lake have still not receded after its banks were broken in January and February.

Bell Meadow is a popular area for picnics and outdoor games in the spring and summer but there is no sign of it drying out at the moment.

John Cadisch of the Ver Valley Society said the problem was that the water had gone over the banks of the mill leat which ran at the bottom of several gardens in nearby Fishpool Street.

He said: “The banks are too low and the water is flowing over. There is a fence and beyond that is private land then the river and gardens.”

Mr Cadish, a long-time member of the society, recalled that in 2001 there had been very high water levels in Bell Meadow which had almost gone into the gardens in Prae Close.

He added: “The water table is higher and the river levels are higher as a result of all this year’s rainfall.”

St Albans council’s head of community services, Richard Shwe, said: “Bell Meadow is a natural flood plain and acts as an overflow for The River Ver which was diverted some years ago round Verulamium Park.

The River Ver is still running very high following the heavy rainfall earlier this year and flooding is occurring in Bell Meadow. The water is then following its natural course running over the path into the lake, causing the lake to breach its banks at certain points around the perimeter.”

He added: “We understand that the Environment Agency, the organisation responsible for the management of flooding, is aware of the situation. We expect that once the river drops to its normal level then the flooding will stop.

“If we were to take steps to build up the banks of the river as a preventative measure this could result in flooding elsewhere in St Albans.”