FLASH flooding led to a car crashing off a road and gardens turned into lakes in a Romsey suburb.

A torrent of water ran off the new Abbotswood village development and tumbled down the hill into the Cupernham area of Romsey.

Gardens at the foot of the hill in Cupernham Lane were inundated with water.

Patrick Scott who lives at Cupernham Lane said water was several inches deep and all across the road at 8.45am today (Thursday December 20).

“Water poured off the Abbotswood development and into Cupernham Lane. This has been a problem waiting to happen. Earlier this year, there was flooding because of water run-off from the development. Traffic is still travelling at speed despite all the water on the road. I saw a lorry plough through at speed. Drivers were irresponsible,” said Mr Scott, pointing out that before the Abbotswood village scheme was approved Test Valley planners assured him water run-off from the site would not be a problem.

Mr Scott added that a motorist lost control of his Audi after hitting the torrent of water and the car spun off the road. He said luckily the driver wasn’t injured.

Lesley Wilson and Ian Wilson of Cupernham Lane Romsey described how they watched their front drive turn into a “river” and their back garden become submerged.

She too blamed the Abbotswood development, claiming that water running off the site was blocking drains.

““We’ve lived her for 25 years and we haven’t had problems like this for at least 20 years,” said Mrs Wilson.

Another neighbour who did not wish to be named said: “It really is quite bad. This is the second time this month that it’s happened and something has to be done urgently. Water came into our front garden.”

Fords along the River Blackwater at Landford, Wellow and Hillstreet were closed because of rising water levels. A flood warning was also issued for the Blackwater. Various roads across the Test Valley were affected by flash flooding.