‘It’s known as the swimming pool’: ‘Massive’ flood closes Southwater road

A deluge of rain has blocked Cripplegate Lane with one village resident branding the area a ‘disaster’.

Jacqui Bourne, who works at the RSPCA said: “It’s wider than the bridge span.

“It’s massive. It’s horrendous. It’s quite dangerous – the worst I’ve seen it.”

But this isn’t the first time the road has been submerged and now the flood-prone lane has become the butt of a long-running joke.

Jacqui added: “It’s known as the Cripplegate Lane swimming pool.”

She raised concerns that if a driver came across the flood at night it could be dangerous.

A West Sussex County Council spokesman said: “Flood warning signs are in place and the road will be shut soon: motorists are urged not to risk trying to drive through the flood water.

“Investigation work is ongoing to try to find the root cause of the issue and a long-term solution.”