Farmers in Australia have been dancing in the rain to celebrate heavy downpour amid a record-breaking drought.

The heaviest rains in years have fallen across parts of the east coast, easing the desperate conditions that have gripped the southeast for three years and left many farmers facing ruin.

As pastures turned increasingly brown and parched, ranchers have been forced to buy expensive feed grains to keep their herds alive.

Fires have spread more rapidly in wildlife habitats in the east of the country because of the drought, and fish have died as rivers have been affected.

But after downpours at the weekend, one farmer was seen running into the street celebrating in just a hat and his underwear.

Australia's drought – the cancer eating away at farms Show all 16 1 /16 Australia's drought – the cancer eating away at farms Australia's drought – the cancer eating away at farms Farmer Ash Whitney stands atop a tree as he cuts off branches to feed his cattle Reuters Australia's drought – the cancer eating away at farms A cow walks away from a water tank near the town of Tamworth in New South Wales Reuters Australia's drought – the cancer eating away at farms Farmer Scott Cooper drops hay for his cattle next to a dried-up creek on South Park farm Reuters Australia's drought – the cancer eating away at farms Tyre tracks from farmer Jimmie McKeown's truck can be seen on his drought ravaged land near the town of Walgett in New South Wales Reuters Australia's drought – the cancer eating away at farms Dead trees on Scott Cooper's South Park farm Reuters Australia's drought – the cancer eating away at farms Farmer Ash Whitney stands on the back of his truck as he feeds his cattle on his land near the town of Gunnedah in New South Wales Reuters Australia's drought – the cancer eating away at farms An irrigated paddock can be seen next to a ploughed paddock on a farm located on the outskirts of the town of Mudgee in New South Wales Reuters Australia's drought – the cancer eating away at farms A windmill and solar panels on Scott Cooper's South Park farm Reuters Australia's drought – the cancer eating away at farms An old bus used for storing farming equipment stands on farmer Ash Whitney's land near the town of Gunnedah in New South Wales Reuters Australia's drought – the cancer eating away at farms A kangaroo casts a shadow as it drinks from a water tank on Ash Whitney's farm Reuters Australia's drought – the cancer eating away at farms An old Sydney tram sits on Jimmie and May McKeown's land near the town of Walgett in New South Wales Reuters Australia's drought – the cancer eating away at farms Patterns created by a plough can be seen on Ash Whitney's farm Reuters Australia's drought – the cancer eating away at farms Farmer Ash Whitney stands in the middle of a dried-up dam Reuters Australia's drought – the cancer eating away at farms Sheeps eat grain on a farm near Tamworth in New South Wales Reuters Australia's drought – the cancer eating away at farms A road can be seen next to tracks leading to a water tank on Ash Whitney's farm Reuters Australia's drought – the cancer eating away at farms A lone tree stands near a water trough on Jimmie and May McKeown's farm Reuters

Another was filmed diving into a flood and swimming.

“This much-needed rain will certainly bring some much-needed relief and smiles across the country,” said Oliver Gordon, who lives in Bourke, 500 miles northwest of Sydney.

Her father, Andrew was among those seen in videos on social media wading through waterlogged fields and rolling in water.

But experts say more rain will be needed to break the drought.

They say the rain may have come too late to save this year’s grain harvest, due to begin within weeks, although the water will help cattle and other livestock.

Michael McCormack, Australia’s deputy prime minister, warned that the impact of the drought would be likely to continue for years.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

In the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia’s most important agricultural region, rainfall averaged 887mm in the 34 months to the end of October – the lowest on record.