A New Forest shopkeeper says he is going to sue the local council after a flash flood caused hundreds of pounds of damage to his business.

Gregory O'Mallow, owner of gift shop Burning Desire, blamed his problems on the recently-completed £800,000 revamp of Lyndhurst High Street.

He owner said the council had been warned of shopkeepers' fears about potential flooding because of the new drainage system.

"It was an accident waiting to happen - and now it has,'' said an angry Mr O'Mallow. "Six people were trying to keep the water out, trying to sweep it away, but they couldn't.''

Mr O'Mallow, who has owned the shop for four years, said water poured in during the height of Saturday afternoon's storm, flooding the premises to a depth of two inches and ruining the carpet

"I shall be taking legal action against the council because all my carpets have been ruined. The shop had to be closed. If I had let customers in, it would have only made things worse.''

Neighbouring store The China Shop escaped damage but a worker said the road upgrade had left a dip between the two businesses.

She said: "Something's got to be done because this huge puddle forms.''

Leisure Fayre Camping and Caravan Supplies also suffered hundreds of pounds of damage but manager Alan Turvey said the council was not to blame.

"It was a freak of nature. The rain came down at such a rate it was unbelievable,'' he said.

"The new roadworks have narrowed the road and made the path wider. That may have made the water come down faster - possibly - but I think it would have happened anyway.''

New Forest District Council director of environmental services Liz Malcolm said a team of engineers would investigate the incident.

"The scheme is a Hampshire County Council design,'' she said.

"If there is any suggestion that that might have been the cause then the county council will look into that.

"All I can say is the weather was exceptional.''