BUCKSKIN residents were today evacuated after their homes flooded.

Six properties, in Sperrin Close, were flooded overnight following weeks of heavy rainfall in the borough which has left the ground saturated and the drains unable to cope.

Raw sewage has also been leaking from a drain near the road, as rainwater has flooded the sewage system.

Families were told this morning to leave their properties and have been moved temporarily into hotels and bed and breakfasts while the borough council and Sovereign Housing Association, which owns three of the properties, assess the damage.

Steven Hodge, his partner Lola Clayton, 38, and their three children were among those forced to leave their home this morning.

Steven, 41, said: “It’s been an absolute nightmare. We had no idea until this morning that we were in danger of being flooded.

“It was a big shock when we came downstairs.”

The ground floor of the home, which includes the lounge, dining room, kitchen, hallway and a toilet, has been flooded with around an inch and a half of water.

It is not known how long it will take to make the homes habitable again, but John Williams, senior community services manager for borough council, said it could take months before residents could return.

Mr Williams has been at the scene since this morning with a team of staff, working to drain water from the roads using two road sweepers and a specialist lorry provided by Hampshire County Council.

He said: “I haven’t seen anything like this since 2000. It’s almost impossible to prepare for situations like this- you don’t get much warning about where flooding will take place.

“All we can do at the moment is pump the water away.”

Buckskin councillor Robert Taylor was also at the scene of the flooding this afternoon, talking to local residents.

He said: “It must be absolutely heartbreaking to have your home flooded and I really feel for everyone who has been affected.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in Buckskin in all the years I have been councillor here.”