HUNDREDS more homes could be at risk as the flooding misery across the South continues.

With yet more rain on the way, action is being taken to give residents some warning of floods, but many commuters faced difficult journeys today.

The main Ringwood to Salisbury road was blocked by flood water as were many country lanes, adding to travel problems already exacerbated by rail delays. The Met Office issued a severe weather warning for over an inch of rain to fall before 9am today, following heavy showers throughout the weekend. The Rivers Itchen and Test are at their highest levels since records began in 1958 and the Environment Agency is warning people to beware of the fast-flowing, dangerous rivers.

But it is the high groundwater levels that are causing most concern and together with Winchester City Council the agency is set to try to monitor levels to provide some warning.

A 5m deep borehole is due to be dug this morning in a carpark behind the Guildhall so the water table can be measured daily and flood risk assessed more easily.

Rod Murchie, the agency's area resources manager, said: "The water table is already very high indeed and as the water table reaches the surface it pops up as springs, runs down roads, fills up cellars and, at worst, can fill up the ground floor of houses."

Hampshire has already had double the normal autumn rainfall, saturating the land and leaving groundwater levels similar to those in February 1995 when the Test and Itchen valleys flooded.

River levels are constantly rising, with the River Avon at Fordingbridge already bursting its banks, leaving the eighteenth-century George Inn like an island, with water rising water levels inside.

Landlady Pauline Tester said: "Talking to locals the last time it came into the pub was eight years ago, but a lot of people say they have never seen it as bad as this, which does not seem hopeful."

In Winchester historic Pilgrim School in Cathedral Close had to call in the fire brigade after pumps being used to protect it from rising water broke down.

Hightown fire fighters in Southampton were called to refloat a sinking pontoon on the River Hamble after the rising tide threatened to engulf a portable building on it.

Wet and windy weather is expected to continue to plague the region well into the middle of the week.