SCORES of households in the New Forest area were today reeling from the effects of flooding and several roads were also badly affected.

The worst-hit area was Fordingbridge, where the River Avon burst its banks as the wettest autumn weather on record continued to cause havoc and distress.

New Forest District Council principal engineer Carl Michal-ski, who has responsibility for dealing with flooding issues, said: "The whole of the New Forest is affected.

"Since the first spate of flooding at the end of October we have filled more than 10,500 sand bags and after last night's operations by our staff, there are about 250 left."

Hampshire County Council staff also worked through the night in dealing with trees which were blown down by the gales.

Roads were blocked by trees at Walhampton near Lymington, at Holbury Drove, near Fawley, and on the A35 near Rhinefield.

Further north in the county, three trees blocked roads in the Stockbridge area and another fell across Dunbridge Lane, near Romsey.

The county's area surveyor Alan Giles also reported flooding problems.

He said: "There has been major flooding in Fordingbridge and in the roads around Sway.

"But there are problems in various places throughout the area and we have just received a call from the police about closing the B3347 which runs down the Avon Valley between Ringwood and Christchurch."

Ringwood, Eling, Bartley, Bur-ley and Brockenhurst, where the Lymington River burst its banks, were also among the areas with flooding problems.

One motorist ran into particular problems in Brockenhurst's picturesque Watersplash, where he had to abandon his car in three to four feet of water at a point where the level is normally little more than three to four inches.

The most aptly-named street turned out to be Flood Street at Burgate, near Fordingbridge.

"The street is now running as a river," said Mr Michalski.

Many other areas were also badly-hit and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service had to deal with calls from throughout the county.

While most cases involved water coming in from areas outside their properties, many householders had to deal with water coming up through their floorboards as water tables rose.