The Met Office declared last month the wettest February on record, as Storm Jorge battered Britain in the fourth consecutive weekend of severe weather.

As heavy rain and strong gales hit already sodden communities, forecasters recorded a UK average of 202.1mm, beating the 1990 figure of 193.4mm.

A "Herculean" mission to erect flood defences is underway across the UK to prevent any further damage to areas already deluged by overflowing rivers, which have hit record levels.

Some 1,000 Environment Agency workers have every day been clearing debris, redirecting water using pumps and repairing parts of the 3.7 miles of barriers they have erected.

It warned that the country needs to brace itself for "more frequent periods of extreme weather like this" because of climate change.

England has had more than 200 per cent of its average February rainfall, with some areas getting a month's worth in 24 hours, making it the wettest February since records began.

Towns including Ironbridge and Bewdley along the River Severn in the West Midlands, and West Cowick and Lidgate in East Yorkshire, along the River Aire, are among the worst-hit areas in the country.