HOMES in a Hampshire village were without water after a burst main left gardens flooded and roads covered in thick mud.

Ashurst residents were woken by police at 5.30am and warned to move their cars as water continued to gush out of the broken main and surge down the street.

The burst sent water cascading down the A35 Lyndhurst Road into gardens and garages.

At least one front garden was flooded to a depth of several inches, preventing anyone from going in and out on foot.

With today forecast to be the hottest day of the year so far, people living in the area affected have been left without water as engineers from Southern Water carry out repairs.

One woman said she had warned that supplies might not be restored until tomorrow.

A Southern Water spokesman said the burst initially affected about 650 homes.

He added that engineers had re-routed supplies but approximately 50 properties were still without water or were experiencing low pressure.

But by 2.30pm the repairs were completed and supplies began to restore to the remaining houses.

He added: "The only properties still affected are those fed directly from the main."

Stewart Townsend said: "The police knocked on our door at around 5.30am and told us to move our cars. The water came as far as the front wall of the house and started going down the side as well.

"It didn't get into the property but flooded next door's garage."

Other properties affected included The Oak bed and breakfast establishment, which is currently full.

A spokeswoman said: "We've got hot water for the showers but no cold water."

The burst happened almost opposite the Forest Inn, leaving parts of Lyndhurst Road and its junctions with New Road and Boakes Place covered in thick mud.

Lyndhurst Road was reduced to a single lane as engineers dug up the road and began to repair the leak.

Speaking shortly after the burst occurred, a Southern Water spokesman said: " Once we've stopped the flooding, which is causing a danger to traffic and damage to homes and gardens we hope to re-zone customers to restore supplies while we make repairs.

"Traffic management is also likely to be in place during the fix. We apologise for the disruption and the damage to property. "