The George in Fordingbridge begins to flood

The River Avon came level with the pub on Tuesday morning, seeing its outside patio area swamped with floodwater.

Owner Caroline Roylance had prepared for the possibility of the river breaking its banks followings days of heavy rain and rising water levels.

• Read more: Fordingbridge pub The George at risk of flooding

Last week, she and her staff built flood defences outside the pub’s conservatory area, which opens out to the patio area and is closest to the river.

Caroline said that without those, the water would go into the conservatory. 

A sign had also been on display in the pub which gave the number of inches the river would need to rise to be level with the premises. 

On Tuesday morning, it had been replaced with a ‘keep calm, it’s only a flood’ sign.

The George remains open as usual, but Caroline is concerned about the possibility of ground flooding in the restaurant area, and said there is already some present in the courtyard.

There is currently a warning in place for groundwater flooding in the area.

The sign inside The George (Image: Caroline Roylance)

The George had been hit by flooding back in January 2014, during which the conservatory was flooded.

Because of that incident, Caroline said she and her team ‘know what to look for’ this time around.

The rising water levels have also impacted the Fordingbridge Recreation Ground, which is across the river from The George.