THE reputation of Hampshire's historic Lady with the Lamp is about to be demolished in a television documentary.

Florence Nightingale, who inspired generations of nurses by her work with wounded soldiers during the Crimean War, is portrayed in the BBC programme Reputations as a manipulative, neurotic and sexually repressed woman.

Born in Italy in 1820, Florence lived with her family at the magnificent Embley Park House, near Romsey, and she was buried at East Wellow.

In 1854 she volunteered to join the British and French armies in the Crimean War and was given complete control of the military hospitals in Scutari, Turkey.

Florence became famous not only for caring for the casualties of the bloody and bitter war, but also for her success in transforming nursing from what the Victorians regarded as a dishonourable occupation for women into a respected profession.

But according to the documentary, Florence was a bossy person who hated other women and acted like a manipulative politician.

Hugh Small, author of Avenging Angel, a biography of Florence Nightingale, said: "You would have been far better staying at the front than in a tent in the hospital."

Mark Bostridge, whose own biography of Florence is due to appear next year, claims the famous nurse was built-up by the Victorians during the Crimean War partly because Britain needed a hero.

"The legend has long been that Nightingale went to the Crimea and made things all right - but she did not," said Mr Bostridge.

The documentary is scheduled to be screened on BBC on Tuesday week.