Boris Johnson has said major flooding across swathes of northern England is not a “national emergency”, during a visit to an affected area.

The prime minister made the comments in Matlock, Derbyshire, near where a woman died after being swept away after a river breached its banks.

Mr Johnson said the government had set aside billions for flood defences and preparations due to an increase in serious flooding “perhaps because of building, almost certainly because of climate change”.

“You’ve got to face the reality that places like this are vulnerable to flooding – we’re going to see more of it,” the prime minister said.

However, he said the recent bout of floods “is not looking like something we need to escalate to the level of a national emergency”.

Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Show all 30 1 /30 Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster Flood water covers the roads and part of local houses in the Fishlake area in Doncaster Getty Images Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster Members of the Fire and Rescue team carry an elderly resident to dry land amid flooding in Doncaster AFP/Getty Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster DONCASTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Flood water covers the roads and part of local houses in the Fishlake area on November 12, 2019 in Doncaster, England. More heavy rain is expected in parts of the Midlands and Yorkshire as the Environment Agency issues 30 flood warnings and five severe warnings on the River Don in South Yorkshire. The prime minister is chairing a meeting of the government's emergency committee later today. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Christopher Furlong Getty Images Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Sheffield A man cycles through a flooded street in South Yorkshire PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster A resident carries a dog to safety on Yarborough Terrace in Doncaster, South Yorkshire PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster A resident inspects floodwater on his doorstep in Bentley, north of Doncaster Reuters Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster People are ferried to safety on Yarborough Terrace in Doncaster, South Yorkshire after the region enddured a month's worth of rain in a day PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster DONCASTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Flood water covers the roads and part of local houses in the Fishlake area on November 12, 2019 in Doncaster, England. More heavy rain is expected in parts of the Midlands and Yorkshire as the Environment Agency issues 30 flood warnings and five severe warnings on the River Don in South Yorkshire. The prime minister is chairing a meeting of the government's emergency committee later today. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Christopher Furlong Getty Images Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Leicestershire Delivery lorry stranded in floodwater at Coston Ford in Leicestershire PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Rotherham Shop floor of a bed store that has flooded after the River Don burst its banks in South Yorkshire Getty Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster DONCASTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Flood water covers the garden of a house in the Fishlake area on November 12, 2019 in Doncaster, England. More heavy rain is expected in parts of the Midlands and Yorkshire as the Environment Agency issues 30 flood warnings and five severe warnings on the River Don in South Yorkshire. The prime minister is chairing a meeting of the government's emergency committee later today. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Christopher Furlong Getty Images Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Derbyshire Flooding on the River Derwent in Belper Mike Saqui/PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster DONCASTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Flood water covers the roads and part of local houses in the Fishlake area on November 12, 2019 in Doncaster, England. More heavy rain is expected in parts of the Midlands and Yorkshire as the Environment Agency issues 30 flood warnings and five severe warnings on the River Don in South Yorkshire. The prime minister is chairing a meeting of the government's emergency committee later today. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Christopher Furlong Getty Images Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Sheffield A man tries to unblock a drain in Whirlow PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Mansfield Torrential rain has led to a mudslide which has forced the evacuation of residents along Bank End Close PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Flooding on Bridlegate in the town centre of Rotherham Reuters Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Birdge on the swollen River Don by Rotherham town centre Reuters Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Flooded railway track at Kiveton, South Yorkshire PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire South Yorkshire emergency responders rescue a pair of people stranded on the A633 by Rotherham South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Derbyshire Flooding on the River Rother by Killamarsh in Derbyshire @wendytinley/PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Flooding by Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield, @Eggy5691/PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Rotherham Emergency responders ferry people to safety on the A633 Reuters Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Derbyshire Flooding on the River Derwent in Belper, Derbyshire Mike Saqui/PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Derbyshire Flooding at a junction in Belper, Derbyshire Mike Saqui/PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Sheffield Saturated ground at Flockton Park in Sheffield, South Yorkshire @DanielH60694431/PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Vehicles are stranded in floodwater on the A633 by Rotherham Reuters Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Vehicles are stranded in floodwater on an industrial park in Rotherham Reuters Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Vehicles drive along a flooded road by Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire A car is stranded in floodwater by Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Sheffield A man wades down a flooded road in Whirlow, Sheffield PA

On Saturday morning, the Environment Agency gave seven “danger to life” severe flood warnings along the River Don in Yorkshire. Other warnings remain in place across the UK.

However, Met Office meteorologist Steven Keates told the BBC: “I think the most important thing is that the areas which have been affected by floods should avoid rain and get some respite.”

The North and the Midlands have all seen torrential rain and flooding over the past few days, with some areas seeing a month’s rainfall in just 24 hours.

Around 35 home were evacuated in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, after a collapsed quarry triggered a mudslide. People were seen leaving their homes in boats in one Doncaster street.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had rescued more than 100 stranded people on Thursday night.

Transport has also been disrupted over the past days, after roads and train routes were blocked following torrential rain.

Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party leader, said before his visit to the Don Valley in South Yorkshire: “This is what a climate and environment emergency looks like.

“Every year we don’t act means higher flood waters, more homes ruined and more lives at risk.