United Kingdom emergency session on flooding

Liberal Democrat party leader Tim Farron said extra funding was needed for flood defences, and said Prime Minister David Cameron needed to “show he cares about the North by following up his words with deeds”.

Asked how anxious he is about the forecasts for Storm Frank, Mr Stewart told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Very concerned”.

“From first light this morning, with the help of the military, we will be setting up more generators on site to allow us to get the remaining four pumps back up and running”.

Met Office chief meteorologist Will Lang said: “Everyone should be aware of the potential for disruption in places from further flooding and the impacts of the gales to transport”.

The issue with the flood defences is that they did not anticipate a much higher barrier system, which would have both protected the homes and business, but saved more money in the long term than the cost of repairs.

The Government has ordered a major review of flood prevention strategy after the latest incident saw 500 troops deployed to help clean up after thousands were evacuated and many left without power.

On Sunday officials made the decision to lift York’s flood barrier after water entered the Foss barrier building, causing flooding to around 500 properties.

Military personnel were mobilised on Sunday to help people in Yorkshire and Lancashire and phone lines and internet connections have been disrupted.

The open flood-gate caused two rivers to merge, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of homes and flooding part of York.

But as the clean-up in Britain got under way, Mr Cameron’s government was under pressure over the quality of flood defences.

For the moment, flood waters are receding but across the north of England over the past week more than 6,700 homes have flooded as river levels reached all time highs.

Liz Truss, the environment secretary, conceded that flood defenses had been “overwhelmed”, and Cameron promised to review spending plans, attempting to pre-empt the inevitable critique of the country’s state of preparedness.

She joined Committee on Climate Change chairman Lord Deben in calling for urgent action to prevent housing being built in flood-risk areas. “In Yorkshire we have seen some rivers a metre higher than they have ever been before”.

The Environment Agency (EA) is warning people to remain vigilant as river levels continue to rise, with the threat of more severe flooding likely into today.

As well as communities in northern England, areas around the River Severn in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire are also at risk.

Speaking to volunteer Peter Gribbon, 28, he said: “This is really vital, the water level is going down but if more rain comes this is what we will need”.

Britain’s government was holding emergency talks Sunday as flooding in northern England forced hundreds of people to leave their homes, including in the historic tourist destination of York.