HUNDREDS of service families in Hampshire are forced to live in shoddy homes needing “major repairs” to roofs, walls and bathrooms, a watchdog has warned.

The county is “named and shamed” as having some of the worst military accommodation in the UK, in a highly critical report by the National Audit Office (NAO).

The Ministry of Defence responded by announcing that families will no longer be required to live in such “condition three” homes – but not until 2012.

In the meantime, the families – some of whom are likely to have relatives fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan – must live in homes at least 23 years old, with “major” rising damp and electrics at least 40 years old.

The NAO warned it will take 20 years to bring all military homes up to the highest standard.

Kevan Jones, the defence minister responsible for military accommodation, insisted 90 per cent of military homes now passed the “decent home”

test set for council accommodation and the MoD was making it easier for personnel to buy their own properties.