Homeowners were evacuated from their houses in Budds Lane, Romsey, on Friday as flood water continued to rise.

All the homes in Budds Lane were  flooded after the River Test breached its banks overnight on Thursday.

Greatbridge Road remained closed as the water continued to flow from the fields and across the road, down into Budds Lane.
While those living there were left to watch on helplessly as their homes filled with water, the area became a tourist attraction, with scores of people turning up to take photos.
 

One Budds Lane resident, Caroline Egg, was evacuated at 6pm on Friday but was back to save what she could on Saturday, as well as trying to flag down a pick-up truck to rescue her car from the flood water.
 

She said: “I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. It’s absolutely awful. Everything is ruined.”
 

Clive Gardner, who lives in Greatbridge Road, had tried to save his furniture by putting everything up on bricks but by Friday afternoon it proved futile as water kept pouring in. His garden is under 2ft of water, while inside there’s at least a foot of water throughout.
 

He said: “I’m a man, so not meant to admit this, but I was in tears. Nothing can be done until the water starts going down.”
 

As previously reported, homeowners were woken in the early hours of Friday morning when the water first started to flood into their gardens.They were forced to barricade their drives with sandbags in a bid to keep the waves of water out.

Greatbridge Service Station was forced to close at 6am on Friday and looks set to remain closed while the forecourt remains under water.

A boom was placed across the A3057 in the early hours of Saturday beneath the rail bridge at Greatbridge to prevent the floodwater entering the town centre.

The boom is still in place and diversions are signposted.

Fishlake Meadows Road also remains closed.

- TEST Valley Borough Council  (TVBC) closed Romsey’s War Memorial Park in Romsey due to rising water levels.

- TVBC is currently working round the clock to meet the increased demand for sandbags to combat flooding.

Residents living in areas of the borough where an Environment Agency Flood Warning has been issued will be delivered sandbags free of charge upon request.

Residents not in a Flood Warning area can purchase filled sandbags at a cost of £2.20 each. Residents requiring sandbags should call the council’s customer service team on 01264 368000 or 01794 527700.

- SOUTHERN Water have warned the public not to lift manhole covers in a bid to hasten drainage.

The company’s spokesperson stated: “We urge people not to do this as it can worsen the situation by letting in more water, overwhelming the sewers further. It also poses a health and safety risk as people may trip or fall on the raised cover.”