PLANS to prevent a repeat of the "nightmare" flooding Hampshire villages faced during the winter of 2013/14 have left Winchester's MP feeling "underwhelmed".

Civic chiefs met with around 100 villagers to discuss the Outer Winchester Flood Alleviation Scheme, which aims to mitigate the impact of any future floods in Littleton, Kings Worthy and Headbourne Worthy.

Winchester MP Steve Brine said: “The floods of winter 2014 were such a nightmare for parts of Littleton and the Worthies, I think residents are genuinely pleased to see ideas being discussed. We have, of course, already seen some changes such as work undertaken by the residents themselves in Pitter Close but we now need the county to piece it all together across the three villages.

"I was a little underwhelmed by this exhibition to be honest, but hope it was a useful exercise in public engagement because whatever is done must command wide support.

"I think we all should reserve judgement until final plans are published in the spring.”

During the winter of 2013/14, Hampshire suffered some of the heaviest rainfall in around 200 years, and Littleton, Headbourne Worthy and Kings Worthy were affected by flooding.

Hampshire County Council has been working with the Environment Agency, Winchester City Council and the local parish councils to implement measures to reduce the impact of flooding and to look at how surface water flooding can be better managed in this part of Winchester, in the future.