ENVIRONMENTALIST Peter Wilcockson said that the River Misbourne has taken its revenge after flooding the pumping station accused of bleeding it dry.

The chalk stream, which has been bone-dry for five years, has now come back with such vengeance that it flooded the water pumping station in Mill Lane, Chalfont St Giles.

Workers have already piled sandbags around the station to try to keep the overflowing waters at bay.

Mr Wilcockson, who lives in the same lane, said: "Well I believe it's the river's revenge because they extracted too much water and now it's getting its own back."

A debate had been rumbling on between residents and Three Valleys Water over extraction levels until the water returned with the help of torrential rains a few weeks ago.

However Ian Newberry, water efficiency manager for Three Valleys Water, said that the extraction was at the same levels since 1955 despite an increased demand.

Sarah Bentley is a project officer for the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project, a partnership of 15 organisations including the Environment Agency and water companies.

She said: "It is the recent heavy rain that has fuelled the recovery and the reduction of extraction to allow groundwater levels to rise, resulting in a natural recovery of the river."

She added: "It's wonderful to see the Misbourne flowing again."

The Misbourne provides a rare habitat supporting threatened plant and animal species.