WATER chiefs in Hampshire have restored an old watercourse near Winchester to protect the environment and attract rare species of wildlife to the River Itchen.

The work, which should help to enhance natural habitats along the river, has been carried out by Southern Water in the village of Otterbourne next to the company's headquarters.

The project involved dredging a stream which had become blocked and overgrown to restore water flow to that part of the Itchen.

A second channel to provide extra capacity at times of flooding was also installed, as well as a weir to further reduce the risk.

Historically, the area was part of a traditional water meadow system, the likes of which have flourished along the lengths of the county's chalk streams for hundreds of years.

Each year the land would be flooded to add water and nutrients to the soil to make the grass lush for better grazing.

However, with this practice no longer used, the original streams had become blocked with sediment and overgrown with water plants and the water no longer flowed.

Instead, the streams tended to fill up quickly during heavy rain and cause localised flooding problems.

Now environmentalists hope the restoration project will help maintain the delicate eco-system surrounding chalk streams as well as encourage wildlife - such as the rare southern damselfly - to return.

It is also hoped the water flow will help alleviate the problem of floodwater filling up the sewage system and help protect the natural underground water sources, particularly around Otterbourne.

Mike Barker, Southern Water's environment team manager, said: "This project has a number of benefits and should greatly improve the environment.

"We hope that the area will become a thriving habitat for all kinds of aquatic life."