FLOOD alerts have been sounded to people in Hambledon, Finchdean and Rowlands Castle by the Environment Agency (EA).

Sandbags have been brought out in parts of Finchdean as groundwater levels at the Carpenters borehole are high.

They also rose at Chalton over the weekend while the Idsworth Lavant – the stream that runs through farmland from Idsworth Down to Finchdean following periods of persistent rainfall – has reappeared and is flowing.

The T-junction close to St Hubert’s Church, Idsworth is under several centimetres of water while there are several deep puddles on the lane between Finchdean and Huckswood Lane.

Members of the Finchdean and Rowlands Castle Flood Action group are watching the situation closely with rainfall brought by Storm Imogen likely to increase water levels further.

The amber groundwater flooding alert issued to people in Finchdean, Dean Lane End and Rowlands Castle means that flooding is possible and residents should be prepared.

The same level of warning is also in place in Hambledon as a handful of cellars on Lower West Street have been effected by water ingress.

Groundwater levels around the village, especially those at Whitedale Farm, are slowing rising but the EA anticipates that any flooding will be restricted to cellars.