OXFORD, England (AP):

Oxford University escaped Britain's worst floods in 60 years as waters pushed through the Thames Valley yesterday.

Most of the ancient university's buildings perched above swollen waterways that forced nearly 100 residents from their homes and into a nearby stadium. Many residents watched nervously as passing emergency vehicles sent waves lapping toward doorsteps, and communities downstream started sandbagging homes.

Water levels peaked late yesterday in the city but other communities west of London such as Reading, Henley-on-Thames and Windsor were taking precautions as forecasters predicted water levels would crest today.

Flood defences

Windsor, home to Windsor Castle, has been affected but is thought likely to avoid heavy flooding because of flood defences. London is also expected to escape.

"It's impacted the fun part of the trip; it hasn't impacted the business part," said Susan Peterson, a literature professor from Curry College in Quincy, Massachusetts, who was attending a conference at Oxford.

Oxford's renowned 38 colleges, where the academic year ended for undergraduates in mid-June, were spared flood damage. Its many buildings, particularly the university's Christ Church Cathedral, continued to draw tourists yesterday.

"We've been here for about a week and a half," said William Brugger from Rexburg, Idaho. "We haven't really been affected, except for the ability to take trains. We would have liked to have gone to Stratford," he said, refering to Shakespeare's birthplace.

Many trains across the regions were cancelled or suspended.

Streets in Oxford's flooded areas about a mile (2 kilometres) from the university were inundated by as much as 4 feet (1.2 meters) of water.

At the flooded George Inn pub on Botley Road, a sign proclaimed: "Open for business come hell or high water."

"It's quite good fun, actually. People are much nicer to each other than they normallyare," said Martin Oliver, 47, an employee at the Courtney Pianos store.

Britain has had one of its wettest summers on record a sharp contrast to last summer, which was one of its driest and hottest. Nearly 5 inches (13 centimetres) of rain fell in some areas on Friday alone. More rain fell Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

More rain was forecast for today.