TORRENTIAL rain unleashed further flooding problems on the Romsey region yesterday.

Roads in the Lockerley and Dunbridge areas were badly affected.

The main road between the two villages was virtually impassable.

Floodwater was almost two feet deep near Canefield Corner. Water running off nearby fields was largely responsible. Other stretches of the road were under deep water.

Romsey Road between Lockerley and Awbridge was flooded south of School Farm and near the Carter's Clay junction.

Flooding was also reported in the vicinity of Awbridge Primary School.

And there were problems on the B3084 at Mottisfont.

Even roads in Romsey itself were affected--particularly the junction of the A3057 and Budds Lane and Duttons Road.

Many minor roads on the town's housing estates were inundated with water.

Flooding was also a problem near Crampmoor Garage in Halterworth Lane and on the A3090 at Ampfield.

Police reported no major problems in the Stockbridge area.

At Whiteparish, Brickworth Road was flooded.

Floodwatch warnings were issued by the Environment Agency for stretches of the River Test and the Cadnam River in the New Forest.

On Monday afternoon the River Test spilled over at Timsbury Bridge--flooding the A3057 for a time.

Storm damage on Sunday night left around 2,000 homes in the Romsey area without power for 48-hours.

Schools were closed and people were forced to throw away frozen foods as freezers thawed.

West Tytherley, Awbridge and Embley Park schools were amongst the worst affected.

Homes in the Awbridge, Sherfield English and Wellow areas were plunged into darkness during Sunday night's storm.

Despite efforts by Southern Electricity engineers to restore supplies, a large number of homes remained without power until Tuesday evening--and some still had no electricity on Wednesday.

A major fault on the feeder line from Dunbridge sub-station near Mottisfont is being blamed for the disruption to supplies.

Sophie Greenyer, from Southern Electric, said on Wednesday morning: "A high-voltage cable from Dunbridge to Sherfield English and the surrounding areas had trees and debris on it. We are hoping to get everyone back on supply by the end of today.

"However, there may be some isolated customers who may still find themselves without power. There was an incredible number of trees down.

"It is the worst storm we have seen in central southern England since October, 1987. We have thrown all our resources into restoring supplies, even meter readers are out checking for fallen cables."