WITH Christmas just days away people in rural areas are anxiously waiting to see if their homes will be flooded by rising ground water.

Areas causing concern include the villages which straddle the Bourne Rivulet north of Andover where ground water levels have been rising rapidly.

"At Vernham Dean the ground water level has risen by 10.5 metres or 34 feet since 5 December. At Hatherden the water level in the well has gone up by a foot in the past two days," said Alan Smith, water resources officer for the Environment Agency.

"The Bourne is now rising close to the village in Vernham Dean which locals say hasn't happened since 1962.

"The ground water level is now higher than in 1995 when several properties in this area were flooded."

A number of properties have already been flooded and some people have taken the precaution of moving furniture upstairs to protect it from any water which enters their homes.

The tenants of the Old Bell and Crown in Hatherden were hit by the rising tide of ground water and have closed the pub.

"We woke on Sunday morning to find about five inches of water in parts of the pub and the water level is still rising," said landlord Mark Goodey. "I suppose we have had to turn away 1,000 people. We spent most of yesterday telephoning people to tell them what has happened.

"The worst thing is telling the customers we have had to let them down at this late stage."

On Wednesday two huge tankers were at the pub pumping 50,000 gallons of water from the soakaway to relieve pressure under the building but whether it makes a significant difference is doubtful. "Yesterday we watched a small puddle turn into a lake. We are at the bottom of a valley and it takes time for the rain to reach the water table," added Mark.

Like most people Mark and landlady Samantha Honey are now hoping for a Christmas miracle - a long, dry spell.