HEDGEHOGS hibernating at a picnic area were submerged when it flooded last week.

The Bowerhill Residents Action Group (BRAG) picnic area began to flood on Wednesday last week.

The pond’s bug hotel is also under water and residents are concerned the waters of the Kennet and Avon Canal may overflow again after reports of more rain.

Chairman of BRAG, Mike Mills, 72, of Tangmere Close, said: “It is totally under water. I have never seen anything like it, it’s unbelievable.

“It seems to be getting worse and worse. It could have some long lasting effects but at this point we just do not know anything.

“The pond has literally vanished. We are really worried about the hedgehogs because until we can go there and have a look at it we do not know what we are going to find.”

The picnic area won a level five outstanding award in the Its Your Neighbourhood category at the South West In Bloom competition in both 2014 and 2015.

Mr Mills added: “We set the pond up in 2010 and we have had a certain amount of rain in the past but never had anything like this before.

“It is absolutely astonishing we are just concerned for the creatures and whether they have survived.”