Seventeen homes in the village of Kelmscott flooded on Thursday

The Environment Agency estimated defences prevented at least 30 homes in Oxford's Bulstake Close from damage at the weekend.

All flood warnings have been downgraded and there are now eight flood watches in the counties affecting the Thames.

Watches also affect the Loddon, Kennet, Cherwell, Ray, Ock, Windrush and Thame.

'Negotiable with care'

Low levels of rainfall are predicted in the next few days but "no additional further problems" were expected, a spokesperson for Oxfordshire County Council said.

Water has receded in Kelmscott, west Oxfordshire, where 17 homes flooded on Thursday.

A road that was closed at Bablock Hythe, near Witney, was now "negotiable with care", the spokesperson continued.

Residents had been offered the chance to evacuate because of high water.

Thames Valley Police are also investigating after a flood barrier in Kennington was vandalised.

'Utterly thoughtless'

The cost of the damage is estimated to be at least �10,000, police said.

The drop in water levels meant the barrier was no longer required and could be removed, the county council spokesperson added.

It followed vandalism to flood defences in Osney and the theft of an Environment Agency pump in Botley.

John Kelly, Oxfordshire County Council's emergency planning officer, said: "This kind of thing makes life very difficult for responding agencies and residents and is utterly thoughtless."

At the end of last week there were three flood warnings on the Thames, plus one on the River Thame from Thame to Dorchester, and one on the River Ray from Shipton Lee to Islip.