Much of the blame for this month's flash-flooding lies with Keighley householders, says Bradford council.

It claims road-side gullies were blocked by townspeople pouring fat and cooking oil through the grates.

Many homes would have escaped the recent flooding if residents had not dumped such substances.

Keith Smith, Bradford's head of services in highways, said the fat cooled and solidified in the gully and its connection.

He said: "This causes a blockage which is extremely difficult and expensive to remove with specialist drainage equipment.

"If residents would store fat and oil in a container at home, it would prevent much of the regular flooding which occurs to residential homes and premises."

The fat connection is detailed in a briefing paper prepared by Mr Smith this week for Bradford's environment chief Cllr Anne Hawkesworth.

The document was released as the council announced a major public meeting next Wednesday addressing Keighley's flooding problems.

All residents affected by last week's floods are urged to attend the 7pm forum, at St Anne's Community Centre, in North Street.

Experts from several key agencies will listen to people's experiences and explain the causes of last week's flooding.

They will look at how to avoid similar incidents in future and deal with any flooding that does occur.

Cllr Hawkesworth's briefing paper also blamed builders and residents who had washed concrete and plaster down the gullies.

Mr Smith stated that mud and stones from roads could also have contributed to the recent build-up in debris found in gullies.

Around 1,000 tonnes of waste were removed last year, but in the past four months alone 600 tonnes had been found.

This increase was coupled with higher-than-usual rainfall during recent storms, said Mr Smith.

He said: "Existing drainage systems are not designed to cope with such flows and there are no easy solutions.

"Water has been forced back up the gully connection and out of the grating, leaving debris and destruction in its wake.

"A number of roads in the area have been damaged and costs of repair will run into many thousands of pounds."

Nowhere in the two-page briefing paper does the council accept any blame for the flooding. This view clashes with the feelings of residents and businesses who last week claimed Bradford should shoulder some responsibility.

Mr Smith said the council re-organised its gully-emptying operation in April last year, increasing the number of gullies routinely cleaned.

Contractors cleared 79,533 gullies during the last financial year and a further 33,000 in the past four months.

Mr Smith added: "It is disappointing that the public perception in certain areas is that there has been no improvement in the service."

Cllr Hawkesworth said her officers were already taking positive steps to tackle flooding across the district.

These included keeping gullies as clear as possible, co-ordinating all services in an emergency, supporting the development of flood defences and reducing building developments in flood-risk areas, she said.

The council also supported the Environment Agency, landowners and farmers in developing a strategic approach to flood management.

Cllr Hawkesworth said: "The recent climate changes need to be dealt with by alternative ways of working, such as risk analysis on vulnerable areas.

"The council has been working with other local agencies to achieve this and its own intensive work on gullies has proved positive.

"Unfortunately, in times of sudden heavy rain they can overflow, even if they have just been cleared."