Angus villagers evacuated from their flood-hit homes claim council workers caused the damage.
Six cottages in Eassie were flooded by rainfall during Storm Frank on December 30.
They say work was carried out by the council against the advice of farmers, who warned of the subsequent flood risk.
Maria Fotheringham, whose parents live in one of the houses, said the work contributed to the higher levels of groundwater.
Ms Fotheringham said: “The six cottages here are all flooded out and they have been badly damaged.
“Many of us have lived here for many years and we have never experienced flooding before, despite far heavier rain than this.
“Everyone who lives in this area knows that Angus Council are to blame for the flooding.
“They have dug two new tracks on the hillside above the cottages and it is that work that has caused these houses to be evacuated.”
An Angus council spokesman said: “Our staff have undertaken many works to alleviate flooding to communities, properties and roads across Angus. This includes works undertaken in the vicinity of the cottages.
“However, it is not considered that these works contributed to the flooding of the properties, which was the result of exceptional quantities of surface water run-off from neighbouring fields.”