FIRST it was the rail industry claiming it was the wrong type of snow on the rails - now water chiefs have blamed the wrong type of rain for horrendous sewage flooding problems in Eastleigh and Chandler's Ford.

The claim came as civic bosses from Hampshire met at a "sewage summit" to quiz Southern Water officials about problems across the county.Eastleigh councillors wanted to know why residents have to wade through sewage in their gardens and suffer a backwash of filth bubbling into their sinks and washing machines every time it rains heavily.

The summit heard how existing sewers in the borough could not cope with the increasing volume from many new housing developments and extra rainfall from global warming.

But officials from Southern Water said the problems might only be "the tip of the iceberg."

Paul Kent, regulatory analyst from Southern Water, said there were two types of rain and sewers could not cope with one of them. He said: "When rain starts and stops, the sewers can accommodate it.

"But when it rains for weeks and weeks the sewers are not designed for it."

The plight of homeowners in Consort Road, Eastleigh, who have suffered with flooding problems for 30 years was highlighted.

The meeting in Eastleigh Council's headquarters, heard residents were unable to empty their baths and toilets after periods of heavy and prolonged rain - a situation that forced 81-year-old war veteran, Alf Bushell, to walk 15 minutes to use a public toilet.

Delegates also heard 12 properties in Merdon Avenue, Chandler's Ford, had to deal with sewage bursting through a manhole cover and flooding their gardens.

Eastleigh Councillor Chris Thomas expressed major concerns about the management of sewers since water privatisation.

He said: "Everything I've heard reminds me of the railways five years ago. This fire-fighting approach to problems is affecting real people out there."

Southern Water said there had been "significant increases in expenditure" and having sat in on customer focus groups they believed that many people were not prepared to pay higher water bills, whatever the problems were.

Cllr Thomas said he just wanted to see the situation resolved adding: "How many people are still going to call me up to tell me they can't flush their toilets or they've got sewage water in their washing machine? It's an appalling situation."

Southern Water is asking for £150 million from the government to resolve these issues.

The summit agreed to write to water regulator Ofwat and the Local Government Association voicing their concerns.