DAVID Cameron’s regional flood minister Philip Hammond refused to promise any extra funding for Oxford’s flood relief channel yesterday.

Mr Hammond, who is also Foreign Secretary, visited South Hinksey’s General Elliot pub to catch up with residents he met when the village was flooded last February.

Since then, the Prime Minister announced £42 million investment in a £120m flood relief channel for the city, formerly known as the Western Conveyance.

The total funding pledged is now at £84m but Mr Hammond refused to promise any more funding if the Conservatives are in Government after the General Election on May 7.

He said: “The Government has already made a commitment to this scheme.

“It is the same as the Lower Thames scheme in my constituency [Runnymede and Weybridge]. It is not 100 per cent but we are confident the funding will come through.

“The sense of collective will to get this done is there.”

Part of the money left to be found will pay for long-term maintenance, but he said that was not necessary for construction work to begin – currently pegged for 2018.

He said: “We know we’re over the hump.

“It will get built.”