ACTION must be taken to conserve water in the region and save Hampshire’s unique chalk streams from disaster.

That is the message from a Hampshire MP who spoke at a summit in Stockbridge about the danger to chalk streams such as the Itchen and the Test.

Conservative Meon Valley MP George Hollingbery, told an audience including Department for Environment delegates, Food and Rural Affairs minister Lord De Mauley, the Angling Trust and other interested groups, that more must be done to conserve water and fight pollution.

He said: “I cannot imagine we want to look back in 40 years at the devastation of this fantastic natural and world famous asset, so we need to do something meaningful to help conserve and save it for the future.

“The message from the meeting was loud and clear: now is the time to take action.”

The summit agreed to put together a charter for chalk streams that will list the areas that need to be saved.