OFFICERS are still unable to return to Boscombe's police hub after the building flooded for the second time in less than a year.

The £1 million station, which houses officers from the area's neighbourhood policing team, as well as council staff, sustained damage in April after a leak from a flat above.

Detectives moved into Bournemouth Police Station immediately, but council officials initially remained in the building.

However, many have now also temporarily moved out.

The 'community hub' in the former Argos building was also damaged by a flood from the same flat in June last year.

The property is leased by Bournemouth council. Council officers say they hope staff will be able to return in the "near future" when repairs are finished.

Sue Bickler, head of community regeneration, environment and regeneration services for the council, said: “Following an incident involving water ingress at the Cotton Exchange building, staff initially continued to work from the premises.

"The community regeneration team are now operating from Southcote Road Depot, close by.

"This is not affecting services provided by the team.

“We are hopeful that repairs will complete in the near future to allow staff to return.

“The youth service is not affected and continue to operate from the building."

Ms Bickler previously said she hoped members of the community regeneration team would be able to stay in the building while work was carried out.

The property in the Crescent, which houses the Boscombe Neighbourhood Policing Team, Bournemouth council’s local regeneration team and youth services, opened in December 2015.

Staff returned to the hub weeks after the first leak.

Officers based in Bournemouth are continuing to patrol and respond to incidents in Boscombe as usual.

The flooding has caused damage to the building itself and equipment inside.

An insurance claim relating to the damage sustained during the previous leak is in progress.