Medway-based soldiers stopped their usual training exercises to help rescue people from their flooded homes.

Around 200 people have been evacuated over the past three days with the help of soldiers from 1 RSME Regiment from Brompton Barracks.

The troops are acting as part of a combined military taskforce with 36 Engineer Regiment from Maidstone around Chertsey in Surrey.

Once rescued from their flooded homes, using inflatable boats from Upnor, the people are taken to safe zones outside of the worst affected areas.

Sgt Lee Cooper, from Gillingham, has been coordinating the relief operations out of Chertsey Fire Station. He said: “The flooding has been the worst that I’ve ever seen and we really felt for the people whose houses were underwater.

“Working closely with the Fire Service has been an eye-opener too. They have been hugely professional throughout, and we’ve created an excellent working relationship with them.”