THERE was light at the end of the tunnel but flooding is still causing problems in Hampshire.

The Army is still in Romsey shoring up defences put in place over the weekend.

Sixteen troops from 3 Division Signal Regiment deployed 500 sandbags along the River Test in Fishlake Meadows to support dams still being worked on by the Royal Engineers at nearby Fishlake Stream.

An Environment Agency spokes-man said the sandbags were a temporary defence in response to recent heavy rainfall.

Police were also considering shutting Budds Lane less than 24 hours after reopening it, causing confusion and frustration among traders at the Budds Lane Industrial Estate.

Paul Ashton, of Romsey Car Body Repairs, said: “We are just frustrated because no one knows what is going on here. If we cannot get customers down here how can we do business? I can’t even think how much money we have lost out on but we must have missed a lot of jobs over the past couple of weeks.”

Budds Lane residents have left their homes with most being put up in hotels before being moved to rented housing in the town centre.

Greatbridge Road has also been reopened although police were out directing traffic due to the amount of groundwater in the road.

David Cameron has pledged anyone displaced from their homes due to flooding will have their council tax paid by the Government, with a £4m fund set aside for local authorities.

Meanwhile Hampshire County Council Leader Roy Perry said he would invite the Prime Minister to Hampshire to see the damage caused.

Cllr Perry has asked Mr Cameron and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to visit Hambledon and discuss how flood defences are funded.

But the future looks brighter for Winchester residents as waters recede throughout the city and life returns to normal.

A city council-led tactical control group will remain there until next week and sandbags are still being provided for residents in need.

Council teams are also out cleaning up Park Avenue, Winchester, as well as clearing gullies in surrounding villages.