A church in East Yorkshire has opened its doors as a place of rest and refuge to local residents forced to evacuate their homes due to severe flooding on Wednesday.
The River Aire in Yorkshire burst its banks on Tuesday leaving some 100 properties in the town of Snaith underwater.
Residents claim they were forced to clear their properties with less than an hour's notice from the Environment Agency.
As water levels continue to rise, the East Riding Council predict over 160 properties in Snaith and nearby villages are still at risk.
Snaith Priory Church is acting as a hub for flood relief in the town, with social services also on hand to provide advice and assistance to residents.
Church curate Diane Ryan told Premier Christian News water has been going almost up to the ceiling in some properties.
"It's been really astonishing to see that amount of water. It's quite unbelievable really," she said.
"People have left their homes in what they stood up in, thinking they would be able to go back but later finding it was not possible to."
Ryan said the Priory Church was chosen as an evacuation centre because of its central location and local significance.
"The Priory church is the biggest building in the town and even those who aren't Christian love the building and see it as central to the town," she said.
"We have had people come in temporarily and offered them respite. And a lot of emergency services, the police who are on guard, environmental personnel and social services have also set up here as well.
"We've got a lot of support services here and we are happy to be providing them with hot drinks and somewhere warm to come."
Ryan said local people and businesses have been "immensely generous" with donations of food, blankets and clothes but says residents will be "looking to the local authorities" in the long-term to provide support to residents as they re-build their lives and businesses.
On Thursday the Environment Agency issued a new flood warning for nearby villages, East Cowick and West Cowick.
