LARGE parts of Andover are at risk of flooding - and the threat is set to grow as the weather warms up.

Householders can now log on to the environment Agency's website to see whether their neighbourhood is at risk and whether the risk is considered to be low, medium or high.

Residents may remember the devastating downpour which saw a flash flood in the town centre in July 1999 and, again, flooding around the college in January 2003 caused by rising ground water levels.

But in the latest maps issued by the agency Andover High Street is not an area at risk.

The main flood risk areas stretch from the Folly roundabout, snaking through the centre of the town.

Buildings at risk of disruption due to flooding include the Baptist church, the college, courts, leisure centre, Safeway, Lidl and the bus station.

At its worst flooding could completely cut off people's east/west travel in the town.

The Environment Agency puts the level of risk in Andover as 'moderate'. It means the chances of flooding in the shaded area of the map are 1 in 75 or less but greater than one in 200.

The fact a vicinity is included doesn't mean it will be flooded but a variety of factors are at work and the agency wants to alert people to the possibilities.

Considerable work has been undertaken to identify the areas at risk and it's possible the threat will grow with global warming causing more extreme weather events in future years.

Chairman of the agency, Sir John Harman, said: "We want to provide as much information as possible as soon as it is available to help people understand if they are at risk, and what to do to prepare for flooding.

"Flooding is a natural phenomenon which will become more frequent as climate change leads to more extreme weather conditions."

Residents can check whether they are at risk by checking the acengy's website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk