'Danger to life' flood warning as more rain forecast

A rare "danger to life" flood warning, along with more than 80 others, remains in place across Hampshire and Dorset in the aftermath of Storm Chandra.

Residents at Iford Bridge Home Park near Christchurch, where the levels of the River Stour had been rising, were evacuated on Wednesday.

More than 50mm of rain fell across both counties and the Isle of Wight on Tuesday, with some places in Dorset seeing three times their monthly average rainfall.

Another warning for more rain covering Dorset and part of Hampshire comes into force at midday until the early hours of Friday.

Emergency services and staff from Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council are helping residents at Iford Bridge Home Park who were told to pack an overnight bag and move pets and vehicles to safety.

Ron Curtis, from the Environment Agency, told the BBC residents should be allowed back soon once the situation improves.

Dorset Council said its crews had worked through the night, "clearing debris and tackling the highest‑risk spots".

In a Facebook post it said it had also sent out its gritters as temperatures dropped and wet road surfaces turned to ice.

"Since the flooding began, our teams have worked through the night and day dealing with more than 200 call-outs," the authority said.

There have been multiple incidents across the two counties, with drivers having to be rescued after getting stuck in flood water.

In the New Forest, a driver died when his lorry left the road in North Gorley and went into a river.

Dorset Council also responded to "a number of comments suggesting that blocked highway drains are the reason for the recent flooding".

Councillor Jon Andrews, cabinet member for place services, said they "understand the frustration" but drain clearance was not "the main issue".

"The widespread and significant flooding this week was driven by swollen rivers, rising groundwater and exceptional rainfall - not a lack of routine highway drain maintenance," he said.

"When rivers and groundwater rise that quickly, the pipes beneath road drains become completely full, so even a clear drain simply has nowhere to send the water - especially when outfalls are also over capacity."

Simon Bryant, Hampshire County Council and Isle of Wight Council's director of public health, advised residents to "take a few essential steps to stay safe".

He listed avoiding contact with flood water wherever possible and wearing gloves and protective clothing during clean-up work.

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