Oxfordshire taxpayers look likely to directly bear the brunt of paying for July's devastating floods.

It emerged last night that Oxfordshire - which claimed to be £3.3m out-of-pocket because of the disaster - has been told Whitehall would not be providing any cash towards the clean-up operation.

It had been assumed the bill for damaged roads, bridges and schools, in addition to costs incurred by the fire service and emergency planning team, would be picked up by the Government.

County council leader Keith Mitchell said a four-page letter from Communities Secretary Hazel Blears could be summed up in seven words - "The cheque is not in the post".

He added: "We have received a response from Hazel Blears (but) it did not come with a cheque or the promise of a cheque. Quite the reverse. We are still more than £3m out of pocket.

"The one thing we are determined about is that this will have no impact on council tax rises and as limited an impact on services as possible."

He said the Government was arguing that Oxfordshire councils' costs had not met the Government threshold for compensation under the Bellwin scheme, the process by which local authorities can claim costs incurred in a disaster such as the summer floods.

The costs of setting up temporary premises, plant hire, removal of trees and repairs to highways all qualify under the scheme but Oxfordshire was not among a list of 50 councils eligible to claim. The deadline by which claims under the Bellwin scheme can be made is January 14.

Fears now centre on whether County Hall council tax levels would have to be increased, or services cut, to meet the massive shortfall. Mr Mitchell told the Oxford Mail some large-scale schemes, like road or school repairs, would have to be postponed.

The net cost to the combined county and district councils of the summer flooding is expected to be more than £4m, of which less than £1m will be recoverable from insurers.

Ms Blears' letter said: "In your letter you state that Government appeared to make a commitment to reimburse local authorities fully for additional costs incurred and conclude your letter with the request that Government reimburse local authorities for all the costs they have incurred.

"However, I do not think we would have given this impression as it is not Government policy to fund local authorities in this way and I am sorry if there has been any misunderstanding."

The county's five district councils received a flood recovery grant of £861,000 specifically aimed at helping residents in need.