THEY have had to suffer the misery of flooding on countless occasions over the past 25 years.

Families living at Calmore Road, Totton, have grown used to the sight of water advancing across the street after heavy rain and entering their gardens.

Some of the houses have also been hit, with water swamping at least one of the properties several times in the past few years.

But their nightmare could soon be over following a long campaign to persuade Hampshire County Council and other organisations to take action.

A vital drainage ditch near the junction of Calmore Road and Michigan Way has already been dug out and other measures are planned.

Those celebrating the potential breakthrough include Alan Brown, 68, who has literally lost count of the number of times the floods have struck.

“All the water flows into one ditch and the pipework isn’t up to it,” said Mr Brown.

“Floodwater actually entered my house twice in the early days. I used to keep piles of sandbags ready but built a massive ‘speed hump’ at the entrance to my driveway to keep it out.

“Now the only problem I get is when cars drive through the flood and create a wash.”

Some of the victims blame the huge amount of development that has taken place in the area since the 1980s. They say former farmland has been covered in concrete and Tarmac, preventing the ground from absorbing rainwater.

But campaigning councillor Neville Penman said the county council was trying to determine the best way to end the flooding.

Cllr Penman added: “One option being considered is a new watercourse to increase capacity. The outcome of a study commissioned by the county council will be made available to the Environment Agency, which has made a provisional bid for funding.

“It goes to show that sometimes a combination of pressure and goodwill can be rewarded.”

A county council spokesman added: “Once the study is complete we’ll share the outcome with the Environment Agency to help with their funding bid.”

Residents raised the issue with New Forest District Council as long ago as 1993.

As reported in the Daily Echo, householders sprang into action in December 2013 to help one of their neighbours, 90-year-old David Harrison.

Water was just half an inch from his home when they piled up sandbags.

Speaking at the time Mr Harrison said: “My house has flooded four times in the past because water builds up in Calmore Road and flows in through a neighbour’s garden.

“It’s made worse because cars drive so fast through the flood in the road. It hits our homes like a wave.”