WHILST Southern Water enjoys last year's profit of £120 million, shopkeepers on Ramsgate harbour were left to mop up hundreds of pounds worth of damage caused by the flood.

Newly opened Vista Bar and Restaurant on Harbour Parade lost £1,000 in stock after sewage and water in the cellar rose to eight feet. Owner Linda Floridas said: "It was a nightmare because we just opened last Friday and then this happens." Half of the bar's opening stock, including cases of beer, was ruined by the water.

Oak Hotel boss Frank Thorley said Harbour Parade has flooded for as long as he can remember. He said: "We bear the brunt of it every time. The water came right up to our door and it even forced open the manhole outside."

Two months earlier on June 11, heavy rainfall flooded businesses on Harbour Parade.

Mr Thorley said: "We've had our cellar pumped out two months ago. The last flood damaged our boiler and we had to shell out to put it right. While this is going on it's chaotic in our hotel and it is ruining our business."

Firefighters from Ramsgate and Thanet attended the scene including Gavin Stewart, 32, who works part-time at bar Enoteca. He said: "This is by far the worst we've seen it."

Ramsgate harbour is served by a combined sewerage system, which carries both wastewater and rainwater in the same pipes.

During heavy rainfall combined sewers become overloaded with rainwater, which results in stormwater flooding through manhole covers or backing up into properties through toilets.

A spokesman for Southern Water said: "We are investigating to see if any other factors contributed to the flooding. Our investigations will include running a CCTV camera through the sewer line to check for faults such as blockages."

Southern Water denied there were problems with the sewage pumping station in the marina. The spokesman said: "A regular maintenance programme includes weekly checks and a twice-yearly overhaul of the pumps.

"All operational sites were working as they should during the heavy rain."

Thanet Council's leader Councillor Bob Bayford said: "The council was sad to hear that businesses in Ramsgate had been affected by the floods over the weekend.

"We were very impressed by the response of the emergency services, who helped to ensure that the council's Monster Bass Festival could still go ahead."