Prime Minister calls emergency flood meeting as misery continues

The Prime Minister will chair an emergency meeting later as flooding continues to cause misery across the north of England.

The Boxing Day deluge brought chaos to the region with hundreds of people forced from their homes and thousands more left without power.

There are now 31 severe "danger to life" flood warnings in place meaning an "immediate danger to life".

Another 258 weather warnings remain in total across England, Wales and Scotland.

Water levels were so high in Hebden Bridge they reached a cash machine at this Co-op. Credit: PA

Thankfully, no further rain warnings have been issued, but it will be a long clear up operation before things return to normal.

This man escaped from his submerged car with just minutes to spare in dramatic scenes in Mytholmroyd in West Yorkshire.

Parts of Leeds city centre started to flood as the River Aire reached record levels along Kirkstall Road, one of the main roads in or out of the city.

Shops and businesses have already been submerged.

The scene in Leeds City Centre. Credit: Twitter/Graham Telford

Rising waters continue to overwhelm flood defences in Lancashire and Greater Manchester where a month's worth of rainfall fell in a day leaving thousands of homes were left without power.

A waterside restaurant that had stood for 200 years on the banks of the River Irwell collapsed and in Radcliffe a gas main exploded.

A 200-year-old pub collapsed in Bury. Credit: ITV News

In Lancashire the main road in Whalley was flooded hitting homes and businesses.

Rescue teams help residents in Whalley, Lancashire. Credit: PA

In Calderdale, West Yorkshire they experienced some of the worst floods the area has seen since 1968.

A woman is waist deep in water in Calderdale, West Yorkshire. Credit: ITV News

While in North Yorkshire police tweeted they had run out of 'Road Closed' signs.

They warned the public: "Don't enter floodwater, avoid flooded roads."

Flooding also brought chaos to roads in north Wales, where people had to be rescued from cars and vehicles were left stranded.

Cars abandoned on the A55 near Bangor in Wales. Credit: ITV News

The force of the water also:

  • Swept away the Red Rocks footbridge at Hoghton on the River Darwen

  • Submerged parts of Manchester City Centre as the River Irwell burst its banks

  • A sinkhole appeared in the carriageway of the M62 motorway which had to be closed

There are fears the floods will now return to Cumbria, which has already been badly hit by the storms.

ITV News Reporter Hannah McNaughty reports from Appleby: