A BASINGSTOKE charity suffered a “catastrophic” flood after a water main burst resulting in gallons of water flooding into its premises and damaging stock.

The Safe, based in Winchester Street at The Top of Town in Basingstoke, told its supporters that a water main burst outside its building causing a flood to cascade into its basement wall for about two hours.

A group of volunteers worked relentlessly to bail out all the water and save the stock.

The charity, which supports families, parents and parents to be in practical ways with counselling, playgroups and providing clothing and equipment, said it managed to save almost all of its stock.

A post on its Facebook page said: “But, it will take a lot of man hours to sift through and catalogue all the damage, plus weeks of drying out before we can put anything back into storage.”

It warned those who rely on the charity that deliveries would be delayed.

It is now closed over the summer until September 9, allowing time to clean up the mess caused by the flood.

“Thank heaven it was this week it happened and not next. Otherwise, our entire inventory would have been lost. Please be patient with us as we get ourselves back together again and, if you see any team members out and about, maybe offer them a hug and thank them for being an absolute hero,” it added.

The Gazette has asked the charity for a comment.