River Itchen at the Weirs, Winchester

Flooding of the river Itchen at the northern end of the city of Winchester, where the river flows through in several channels, has been severe. The channels are reunited a few hundred yards upstream of the weir shown in this photo, before passing under the City Mill; this working (undershot) watermill, a National Trust building dating from 1743, still grinds excellent bread flour using medieval technology.

At the weir in the centre of this photo, the Itchen again divides into separate channels. The water flow is largely contained here within the river banks, the closed footpath and riverside gardens still functioning as an overflow for water escaping the river further upstream.

You can see the force with which the river passes over the weir. The water level at this point of the river is at best an inch beneath its bank.

Flooding here has been much, much worse during the past few weeks. The City Mill is still out of action.

An ideal photographic subject for the brand-new breed of "flood tourists".