FLOODING turned to violence when a driver attacked a walker who was urging him to slow down on a rain-hit Hampshire road.

The pedestrian used a waving hand signal to urge the motorist to cut his speed as he splashed towards him on a partly submerged road.

But instead, the driver slammed his brakes on and came to a halt before leaping out of his car and swinging a punch at the man.

The fit of 'flood rage' came as a Hampshire MP highlighted the “unbelievable behaviour” of “joyriders” on waterlogged roads in the county.

Meon Valley MP George Hollingbery said he had been told about the incident by an incensed resident in his constituency.

“Luckily the resident said the driver only managed to connect with his torch, which hopefully must have hurt his hand, before he ran back to his car and drove off,” Mr Hollingbery said.

“It was quite a shocking incident for him to be involved in and unfortunately he didn't get enough time to take down his registration number.”

The assault happened on the A272 at Bramdean, near Alresford.

But Mr Hollingbery said it was not the first incident he had heard of as floods continue to blight Hampshire.

“On Saturday, again in Bramdean, we watched a sports car drive so quickly through flood water it actually aquaplaned and ended up travelling sideways across the road before mounting the verge and finally gaining control before speeding off.”

He said there was another incident in which drivers were “joyriding” down the flooded East and West Streets in Hambledon at speeds of up to 40mph “just for the thrill”.

He added: “This is a truly stupid thing to do in around 5in of water as it causes a bow wave and even more flooding of properties. This is inconsiderate and illegal, and people should have more sense.”