Basingstoke: Pump won't flood other areas

Firefighters are telling Heart a high-powered water pump they're testing in Basingstoke won't cause flooding parts of the Thames Valley.

The pump - which shifts water at a rate of 7 thousand litres a minute is currently being tested to see how effective it is for removing ground water.

Specialist teams, along with the army are currently working around the clock to clear water away from the West Ham electricity substation and pipe it into the River Loddon - over a kilometre away.

It's hoped the powerful machine could then be used to tackle groundwater in Buckskin - where 80 houses have had to be evacuated.

Dave Graham, from Hampshire Fire and Rescue, tells Heart: "We are at the mercy of the weather,"

"The unknown factor is how much groundwater is going to come into this area."