A HAMPSHIRE plant-hire company is counting the cost of last week's heavy rain after an excavator slipped into the swollen River Test at Kimbridge.

Cosham Plant Hire, based in Havant, was left with a hefty repair bill - probably running into several thousand pounds - when the 17-tonne JCB became submerged in the river, damaging the machine's computerised equipment.

It had been hired out by Hampshire County Council contractors installing gabions near the main bridge over the River Test in Kimbridge Lane.

On Tuesday morning disaster struck when the machine operator tried to haul a concrete block out of the river.

Ground supporting the £60,000 machine's weight gave way sending it into the fast-flowing and rising water.

Experts from Boarhunt Recovery Service near Fareham were called in to help with the rescue operation.

With the aid of a mobile crane the excavator was pulled clear of the water.

It is now undergoing a full inspection to see what damage has been done.

Mechanics are likely to take a few days to complete the task, said Cosham Plant Hire boss, Mick Gaffney.

Mr Gaffney said: "Water's got into the air intake through the exhaust system and the machine is only firing on three cylinders.

"Mechanics are stripping the engine down to assess the damage. Once that's been done we are going to get Greenshield to test the computerised panels but they are likely to be damaged.

"This is probably going to cost us thousands of pounds to repair."