Local government minister Brandon Lewis took part in a teleconference on flooding with council chiefs from across the south-east including Hampshire’s Roy Perry.

The Environment Agency’s regional flood and coastal risk manager, Alison Baptiste, was also involved.

Mr Perry said: “I certainly conveyed to Mr Lewis and Alison Baptiste how difficult the situation is in Hampshire.

“As a result of the flooding, the condition of Hampshire’s road network has deteriorated and we estimate that this damage alone will cost £1m to repair.”

He added: “I explained how, across Hampshire, 81 communities have been affected by flooding, with Romsey and Hambledon suffering particularly badly, with parts of both communities also contaminated by sewage.”

He said Hampshire was unlikely to qualify for payments from the Government’s flood relief fund, which was open to authorities which had spent over £4 million.

The Environment Agency has issued flood alerts on the River Test in the Romsey and Stockbridge areas and has warned of possible flooding if further heavy rainfall affects waterways in the region.