The Diocese of Hereford has launched a flood relief appeal to help local residents in the wake of Storm Dennis.

Donations received will be distributed by the diocese to local communities worst affected by the flooding. 

The Environment Agency has six severe flood warnings - meaning a danger to life - in place across England and Wales and more heavy rain is forecast for later in the week.

Hereford, near the Welsh border, is one of the areas worst affected, with many residents saying they have never seen anything like it before.

The River Wye - which runs through the centre of the city - reached record levels on Monday, peaking at more than six metres.

A number of properties and roads around the river have been flooded. 

The Archdeacon of Hereford, the Venerable Derek Chedzey told Premier: "pubs, restaurants and residential homes have been inundated with water, including foul water from the sewage system which has backed up.

"Hereford is used to a certain level of flooding but this was unprecedented.

"It has had a dramatic effect because the river is right in the city centre and people's homes are full of water. It's the drying out, it's the temporary accommodation and for businesses. it is the long term impact. They won't get back up on their feet in a space of a week or so, it will take time to get those places back into a usable form."

Church sites within the diocese have been affected including churches in Marden and St Michael's church in Bodenem, which faces flooding for the fourth time this winter. 

Chedzey said the inside of the church buildings have received the highest level of flooding that anyone can remember.

The Hereford Diocese has offered its prayers and condolences to all those impacted by the recent storms and has offered to provide practical support to residents whose homes and businesses have been inundated.

Its online flood relief appeal hopes to raise £5,000 for flood victims.

At the time of writing the fundraiser has reached £526.70