Winchester's MP has raised the water supply issues faced by his constituents in the lead up to Christmas in the House of Commons.

During a session to DEFRA ministers, Steve Brine recounted how thousands of his constituents in Winchester and Chandler’s Ford, and even more across the wider region of Hampshire, were left without water due to “the perfect storm of the big freeze followed by the big thaw and a deluge of water into the Testwood and Otterbourne water supply works.”

This understanding comes after a recent meeting between Mr Brine and the CEO of Southern Water, in which the MP has been invited to visit the Otterbourne water works in the coming months.

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Mr Brine went on to urge Southern Water to “to get their explanation, with details of conversation, out to residents this month.”

Rebecca Pow MP responded on behalf of the government. She said: “Yes, their feet will be held to the fire to get their communications out to everybody to explain what happened actually, but to improve the situation in the future.”

Mr Brine also took the opportunity to praise the 'amazing work' of local Scouts who, via the Hampshire Young People’s Emergency Response, came together to staff water bottle distribution hubs supporting constituents impacted by water loss and disruption. Police Cadets also took part and helped affected residents.