A NEW Forest beauty spot has been named one of the top flood rescue sites in the UK as experts warn drivers to take more care.

Brockenhurst has been named one of the top 20 locations where there has been the highest number of flood rescues in the last five years.

A survey by the AA and the Environment Agency reveal more than 60 per cent of motorists would risk an accident by driving through flood water.

Last winter was the wettest on record, and the flooded roads saw many drivers come a cropper especially on rural lanes around Dorset and the New Forest.

Derritt Lane in Bransgore was particularly problematic with dozens of cars getting stuck in the flood water over several weeks of severe flooding.

Parish council chairman Richard Frampton along with Wessex Fire and Rescue Service and Fire Aid International, both based at Merryfield Park, helped residents rescue their cars, even taking action to clear the road of the standing water.

But frustratingly the team were forced to rescue drivers on a daily basis, despite warning signs telling motorists not to continue down the country lane.

Drivers are being warned to take note of flood warnings before they set off on a journey.

The largest number of rescues from flood water on a single day was Christmas Eve last year with 642 rescues.

“Too many drivers end up putting themselves in danger - and potentially those who come to their rescue - by taking unnecessary risks during flooding. “It can be hard to tell what hazards lie beneath flood water, but more often than not there's a lot of misery and a much longer delay than a well planned detour,' said John Curtin, director of incident management and resilience at the Environment Agency.

“We need drivers to check the flood risk for their entire route before they travel. Our flood warning information on GOV.UK is updated every 15 minutes and can help anyone plan a safe journey,” added Mr Curtin.

Darron Burness, head of the AA's flood rescue team, said: “During last winter, which was the wettest on record, we attended around 4,400 flood-related call-outs but many were completely avoidable.

“Some drivers don't fully appreciate the dangers posed by flood water. Fords catch a lot of people out. Just because it's a designated crossing point, don't assume that it's always safe to cross - the depth of the water and its flow rate can quickly change with the weather.”

He added: “Just one foot or 30 centimetres of moving water can float your car, so if you're at all unsure of the conditions, turn round rather than risk your vehicle being swept down river.”