Thousands flee homes as UK hit by 'unprecedented' flooding

LONDON: Thousands of people were forced to flee their homes in northern England hit by "unprecedented" flooding as Prime Minister David Cameron today ordered deployment of more troops to tackle the chaos during the Christmas holiday season.

Prime Minister Cameron held an emergency meeting on the floods trigged by heavy rains which he said has created an unprecedented effect.

After chairing a conference call of the COBRA emergency committee on the floods, he said the situation for many was "incredibly serious".

"The level of the rivers plus the level of rainfall has created an unprecedented effect, and so some very serious flooding. We will do everything we can to help people in their hour of need," said Cameron, who is expected to visit some of the flood-affected areas tomorrow.

Cameron also ordered deployment of additional troops to tackle situation in the flood affected areas, including the historic tourist destination of York.

"More troops are being deployed as part of a plan to do whatever is needed," Cameron wrote on Twitter.

Lancashire in northwest England and Yorkshire in the northeast were the worst affected.

Emergency teams are working to evacuate people from homes in the city of York.

The Met Office national weather service issued "red warning", which calls people in affected areas to take action.

Police advised between 300 and 400 people to evacuate near the River Ouse and River Foss in York, with up to 3,500 properties at risk.

Hundreds of flood alerts and warnings are in place for England, Wales and Scotland, including more than 20 severe warnings, indicating danger to life.

Around 10,000 homes in the region were without electricity after a substation was damaged.

UK environment minister Liz Truss said the government will review flood defences.

She warned some rivers had not yet reached their expected high peak, saying the Army had been deployed in York, Leeds, and parts of Lancashire.

People in West Yorkshire have been evacuated form their homes as almost the entire average rainfall for December fell in just a 24-hour period on Boxing Day.