Leakage detectives will be hoping for divine inspiration at the second Hampshire Water Festival tomorrow (Saturday).

A two-man crew from Southern Water will be pitting old technology against new as they test dowsing rods against the latest equipment.

Visitors who drop in on the experiment at Abbey Gardens, Winchester, will be invited to see if they have the divining touch.

Dowsing is the centuries-old traditional way of locating water, other liquids and, sometimes, mineral resources.

A spokesman for the firm explained that the old-fashioned method was still used today in some situations-but how it worked remains something of a mystery.

"Some people are better at it than others," he said. "Anyone can come along and have a go. It will be a bit of fun."

In contrast, the latest detecting methods will also be on display, including electronic ground microphones linked up to graphs on a computer.

Southern Water's leakage team is on call 24 hours a day and looks after 13,000km of water mains. The spokesman said the team's Ofwat-set target of saving 92m litres of water per day had been met for several years.

Southern Water's mobile display team will also be at the festival to offer advice on how to conserve water and prevent flooding.

The event, staged at various locations around Winchester, including the cathedral grounds, will feature water-related fun for all the family. It begins at 10am with an opening ceremony by broadcaster and Hampshire resident, Chris Packham.

Attractions include "Ollie the Otter", who will be teaching children about water safety, music and theatre acts and a water market selling a range of products, including watercress, cider, trout and plants.