SHIPTON Bellinger High Street has been flooded by the River Bourne for the first time since at least the 1950s.

But the message to the curious who would like to view the spectacle is 'stay away'.

"The police have closed the road but are unable to enforce the closure and we have had the curious and boy racers driving through," said parish council chairman Mrs Pam Ball. "Every time they drive through more water is sloshed into flooded homes."

Around half a dozen properties are affected by the water. "One house has had a pump at work continually and in another property a spring has come up." For the full story see this week's Andover Advertiser.