A FLOOD alert has been issued by the Environment Agency for groundwater flooding in Hursley.

The alert was updated on Monday, January 23 at 9.43am

A message on the agency website says: “In Hursley, groundwater levels are high and rising. In the last 3 weeks, 157mm of rain has been recorded at Otterbourne.

“This is almost double the monthly average and is in addition to a wet December and extremely wet November.

“In the last 24 hours, the groundwater level has increased by 0.21m.

“From Sunday, January 22, cellar flooding could occur at the southern end of the village at South End Close.

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“Over the next 5 days, the weather is forecast to remain dry, but groundwater will continue to rise.

“It is possible that the level may just rise high enough that cellar flooding could affect the Dolphin Pub from Wednesday, January 25.

“Further unsettled weather is forecast in February. Levels are likely to remain high or could rise even further in the coming weeks.

“We continue to monitor the forecast. If you use pumps to help protect property, please ensure they can operate.”

Chair of Hursley Parish Council David Killeen said: "There is a flood alert in place for Hursley - it's for groundwater flooding, which is the water table rising.

"It's currently about 25, maybe 20cm away from coming in cellars."

He continued: "Cellars will flood but people have been well warned, they've been alerted to it.

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"There are two properties that have kitchens in their cellars - one will flood to a depth of probably between 18 inches and 2 ft, that property will have to move its cooking upstairs, the other one can cope as it's slightly higher up but it will possibly flood to a depth of six inches, but they'll be fine.

"But there won't be flooding above ground level."

Further groundwater flooding alerts have been issued for the Meon Valley, Kings Sombourne and Little Sombourne, Bramdean and Cheriton, and Twyford and Hensting.

Further information on flood warnings, and what to do if your area receives one, is available at: check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk.