The Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Rt Rev Justin Welby has been currently visiting victims of flood damage within Australia and says flooding will "only increase if we fail to tackle the climate crisis."

Emergency warnings remain in force for three states in southeastern Australia after an intense weather system triggered flooding.

Hundreds of people have been rescued, after a month's worth of rain fell in just a few days.

Alerts are in place for parts of Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.

Yesterday the Most Rt Rev Welby tweeted that he visited Lismore where he and his wife visited homes and businesses that are still recovering from the record-breaking flood that hit Lismore, in the diocese of Grafton, in northern New South Wales in February.

The Archbishop tweeted yesterday: "Spent today in Lismore seeing how churches are supporting their communities after devastating floods - which will only increase if we fail to tackle the climate crisis. 

"Thank you Rev Christian and all the clergy and parishioners whose courage and faith were so inspirational."

According to the Church Times, the Rector of St Andrew's, Lismore, the Revd Christian Ford, introduced the Archbishop and Mrs Welby to parishioners still unable to return to their homes. 

From among the people they met were a family who are living in a caravan in the backyard of their damaged home, and a parishioner awaiting a lung transplant who is now living with other parishioners. 

Whilst speaking to Most Rt Rev Justin Welby, Mr Ford said that the parishioner was deeply moved that Archbishop Welby had prayed with him.