SURFERS could soon be flocking to a landlocked Hampshire town in their search for the perfect wave.

Romsey leisure centre, The Rapids, is building up to become the first swimming pool in the country to open a "flow rider" - a constant, single wave to test even the toughest bodyboarders and surfers.

Test Valley planning bosses will decide today whether to give the go-ahead for leisure chiefs to build the state-of-the-art system, which could attract scores of extra visitors to the pool.

The revolutionary US invention creates a textbook barrel wave by blasting a thin sheet of water over a padded wave-shaped slope.

Riders strap their feet into boards to slide, carve and ride up the simulated wave surface.

Different force jets create waves of varying difficulties - paving the way for Romsey to become a surfing haven to rival Cornwall's Newquay.

Duty manager at The Rapids of Romsey, Andy Mellars, said plans were at early stages, but added that the arrival of the flow rider would be a massive boost for the centre.

"There are a few of these machines in America but none in England at the moment, so hopefully we'd be one of the first in the country.

The flow rider would be housed in an 18m by 13m extension, with a curved roof and metallic silver cladding and a full length window.

Extra parking would also be needed at the centre, in Southampton Road. Test Valley council has received no objections to the project, and officers have recommended that planning permission be granted.