MORE homes have been evacuated in the borough as groundwater levels continue to rise.

The total number of homes evacuated now stands at 71, 69 of which are on the Buckskin estate. The other two homes are in the villages of St Mary Bourne and Preston Candover.

Last night firefighters from Basingstoke fire station helped with the evacuation of two homes in Buckskin, including rescuing a man and his two dogs.

Homes affected on the estate include Antrim Close, Bodmin Close, Exmoor Close, Grampian Way, Holyrood Court, Prescelly Close, Quantock Close and Sperrin Close.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council will hold a drop-in session for affected residents from 5pm tonight at the Ridgeway Community Centre, in Blackdown Close, Buckskin.

The borough council has used tankers from Monday, February 10 in a bid to keep the water levels down.

The rising groundwater, following months of heavy rain, is contaminated with sewage.

Yesterday, police released a statement to say that rumours about looting in flood-affected homes in Buckskin were untrue.