River Aire flooding: Homes evacuated as Yorkshire river bursts banks and sweeps cars off roads

Police tell residents to head to church for shelter as waters threaten to overrun communities

Residents of Snaith in East Yorkshire are being forced to abandon their homes after the River Aire burst its banks following three weeks of heavy rain.

Humberside Police said on Twitter: "Further to our post regarding the River Aire having burst its banks at Snaith.

"Homes are now being evacuated, those affected can attend the Priory Church for shelter and refreshments.

"Please continue to avoid the area, the A1041 north of Snaith is closed in both directions."

Social media users posted footage of water pouring over flood banks in the Snaith and Gowdall area into surrounding wash lands.

The lower River Aire has been causing concern since the weekend with a handful of homes reported to be flooded in nearby Hirst Courtney, on the opposite side of the waterway to Snaith.

Lucy Sheridan, 40, from Carlton, said the river level at Snaith was as high as she had seen it.

She said the road into the town had been closed, a number of businesses were flooded and the local primary school had been shut as a precaution.

Classic cars from a garage located close to the River Aire had been moved on to Carlton Bridge in an attempt to avoid flood damage but other vehicles were submerged in the water.

Mrs Sheridan said: "The river has come over the top of the flood defences on the Snaith side so there is nowhere for the water to go and the river itself is flowing quite fast."

She added: "There's a beauty salon, a hand car wash and a car sales garage, which are all under water up to their windows but they've moved the classic cars on to the bridge."

It comes after three consecutive weekends of heavy rain led to increased water levels across the nation after Storm Chiara, Storm Dennis anmd a third unnamed weather front brought downpours across all four regions of the UK.

Severe flood warnings are currently in place for the river Severn, while parts of southern Wales have been repeatedly overrun by waters amid one of the wettest February months on record.

In Shrewsbury, Network rail closed the town's train station in a "once in a generation" move, while flood barriers in Ironbridge are expected to be overrun following days of deluge in the region.

Meanwhile hourly inspections are being conducted on the Severn viaduct, which carries the majority of trains out of Shrewsbury Station and has been surrounded by water.

England has experienced more than 200 per cent of its average rainfall for February across the month, with the Wye, the Ouse and the Trent rivers all also at risk at overflowing.

In a statement addressing the ongoing flood risk, the Environment Agency said: "Groundwater levels across parts of Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Sussex are continuing to rise and will lead to further flooding later this week.

"As of 12.30pm on Tuesday there are two severe flood warnings for Ironbridge and Shrewsbury, meaning there is an immediate risk to life."

A further 106 flood warnings, meaning that flooding is expected, and 155 flood alerts, meaning that flooding is possible, are also in place across the country.

Additional reporting by PA.