An Oxford allotment site has got fresh running water for the first time in almost 80 years after a new pump was installed.

The allotment site in North Hinksey, which was established in 1939 during the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign, struggled to attract plot holders in recent years because of the lack of running water.

Gardeners preferred sites at Yarnells Road and next to North Hinksey Nature reserve, which have water, and the problem meant some plots at the North Hinksey Lane site were not being fully harvested.

Now a pump has been put in after a ‘water witch’ was hired to locate a source using the ancient art of water dowsing.

Ans Laver, chairman of the North Hinksey Parish Council allotment committee, said: “This is very positive. It’s a massive benefit to allotment holders here. We’ve now got water during one of our wettest autumns ever.

“It’s going to be quite a boost to our growers here. It will make their lives an awful lot easier now that they won’t have to bring buckets full of water from home.”

Worcestershire water dowser Christopher Strong used two steel divining rods to detect ‘geomagnetic’ forces under the ground.

He was even able to correctly identify the depth of the water at nine foot below ground.

Mrs Laver said: “I’m proud to say our site has got a natural low energy, sustainable source of water now.

“Others have been extremely sceptical of the water diviner but they’ve come right around now.”

The parish council received a £500 grant from the Botley-based Midcounties Co-op to buy and install the pump, with the project having a total cost of about £2,000.

Plot holder Ian Passmore, 65, of Sweetmans Road, said: “I never thought this would come off, to be honest. I was sceptical about the water diviner, it’s quite impressive.

“ This will be a big help too. It’s a hell of a trek getting water here otherwise.”