THE military has joined the fight against the floods in Hampshire.

Troops are expected imminently in Winchester to help stem the tide of water flooding into the city from the River Itchen.

A Winchester City Council spokesman confirmed troops will be in Water Lane at 11pm tonight to build a sandbag wall to protect already-flooded properties.

They will remain on site for a few hours to prepare the city for another deluge of rain and hail stones tomorrow (Feb 12) as one of the wettest winters on record continues.

Some of the 35,000 sandbags currently deployed in Hampshire have been put around the river’s edge in a desperate attempt to slow the water flowing further into the road.

It follows severe flooding problems in the city, including at St Bede Primary School which has been closed for the past two days.

The school was closed for 18 months in 2000 following severe flooding and will remain partially shut all this week due to flooding in the playground and problems with the toilets draining.

Year 6 pupils will return to class on Wednesday.

Meanwhile the city council has also confirmed River Park Leisure Centre will be closed until further notice due to floods.

The military presence follows calls across the country for intervention due to the widespread flooding the severe weather has caused.

The effects of the weather have left people trapped in their homes and vehicles and caused transport chaos across the region, with trains cancelled and roads closed.