Aerial footage has been released showing the extent of the flooding in Yorkshire, where an extra 500 troops have been brought in as large swathes of the city of York are under water.

Emergency teams are evacuating homes in York, where police say 3,500 properties were at risk after the Foss and Ouse rivers burst their banks. Extra soldiers have also been mobilised to join emergency services and mountain rescue teams to bolster flood defences with sand bags.

Up to a months worth of rain has fallen across northern England in recent days, leading to the worst flooding in the region for 70 years. Other cities to have been affected by the deluge include Manchester, Rochdale and Leeds.

Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to visit the flood-hit areas and has pledged more military help for the region. More than 200 flood warnings and alerts remain in place, including 27 severe warnings.