DOZENS of families in a Hampshire neighbourhood faced a miserable Easter as water from a burst main flooded their homes.

Many households in the Grange Park area of Hedge End spent the Bank Holiday weekend mopping up, while others had to find alternative accommodation.

Water crept up to several inches in some houses in Cheltenham Gardens after the burst water main left water several feet deep flooding through the road.

Many gardens were waterlogged while some families watched in horror as their carpets, furniture and electrical items were destroyed by what they described as an 'absolute torrent' of water.

Around 40 homes were affected by the incident on Saturday, when a mains pipe between 24 and 30 inches wide, which carries water directly from Moorhill reservoir, is thought to have burst near to the junction with Stroudley Way at about 1pm.

A large amount of debris was washed across Maunsell Way by the torrent of water and police closed the road between Martley Gardens and Cheltenham Gardens while staff from Southern Water cleared it.

Around 1,000 homes in Hedge End, Whiteley and Park Gate were without water for a short time.

Today several families are counting the cost of the damage. For some the damage was restricted to their gardens and garages while for others the level of devastation was far greater.

Alice and Julian Young watched helplessly as the flood water reached up to four inches high in their home in Cheltenham Gardens, which they have recently decorated throughout, ruining everything on the ground floor.

The couple were in a neighbour's garden when a 'wave' of water came over the fence.

"It wouldn't stop and it was getting higher and higher," said Alice, 36.

"I rushed home and closed the door but the water just started coming into the house."

"Now everything is ruined," said Alice. "The settee, the carpets, the dining table, the stereo - everything."

Sarah Cornelius, also of Cheltenham Gardens, was at home with her three-year-old daughter Ella when the flood began.

"I looked out of the back door and it was like a swimming pool," she said.

"There was water pouring through the bottom of the fence. I have never seen anything like it before.

"I opened the front door and it just came straight in. My daughter had to wade through it to get out of the house.

"I tried to collect a few things but there was not much time. Everything is ruined - the washing machine, the fridge, the furniture. I have just had laminate flooring put in and that is ruined now too."

Lisa and Ian Symes were in their garden when they heard a strange noise.

"There was a roar of water that sounded like a waterfall," said Lisa, 38.

"I went upstairs and couldn't believe what I saw. There was an absolute torrent of water coming down the pathway. It was really scary."

A spokeswoman for Southern Water said: "The flood was caused by a fibreglass mains burst on Maunsell Way, Hedge End at about 1pm.

"Southern Water had staff sent out to fix it immediately and most houses had water back on within a couple of hours.

"Staff were working with the affected houses to clear the water and we apologise for any inconvenience that has been caused."