Environment chiefs are to visit Swanbourne Lake in Arundel as work starts to stop the lake from drying up.

The lake has dried up in recent summers and there had been fears it could disappear if nothing was done about the situation.

But the Department of the Environment came to the rescue with a package of plans and cash to restore the lake.

Work starts on Monday for six days and will investigate the depth of the lake bed and its thickness.

Plans include dredging the lake to make it deeper and cutting the amount of water taken from bore holes.

The dredging has the support of English Nature and will be carried out sensitively to protect nesting birds and the trout fishery.

The final scheme could cost £10 million and take several years to complete.

The Environment Agency will monitor the work, which will be carried out by Southern Water's contractors Komex Clarke Bond.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "The lake has suffered repeated problems from drying out for several years.

"If the situation continues, the unique wetland vegetation around the lake will die and affect a significant wildlife habitat that is home to many rare plants and insects, including tawny owls, nightingales, edge and reed warblers, newts and bats."

The beauty spot dates back to the Domesday Book and was painted by John Constable in his painting, Arundel Mill and Castle in 1837.