David Cameron: More troops deployed 'to do whatever is needed' for flood victims

The Prime Minister has promised to send more troops to "do whatever is needed" to help people in large swathes of northern England stricken by floods.

Thousands of people are being evacuated after "unprecedented" levels of rain have caused rivers to burst their banks and left homes under water in York, Leeds and Manchester.

The Government has vowed to review flood defences as the Army was mobilised this morning to help emergency services carry out mass evacuations.

David Cameron has this morning chaired a conference call of the Government's emergency Cobra committee as ministers worked to tackle the problem.

He said: "I've just chaired a Cobra meeting on the unprecedented flooding. Huge thanks to the emergency services and military for doing so much.

"Also my sympathy for those affected at this time of year. More troops are being deployed as part of a plan to do whatever is needed."