Army troops and mountain rescue teams continue to evacuate stranded residents from their flood-hit homes in York today

Report by daily mail, ''Army troops and mountain rescue teams continue to evacuate stranded residents from their flood-hit homes in York today (centre) as widespread flooding continues to blight the north of England. As the emergency services work around-the-clock to help rescue homeowners and deliver sandbags, a Chinook helicopter delivered supplies (right) to help repair a flood defence barrier in York which was besieged by floodwaters yesterday. Elsewhere, residents and business owners began the huge clean-up operation as floodwaters began to recede in communities across Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire including Tadcaster, North Yorkshire (bottom right). Others were counting the cost of the storm damage as Prime Minister David Cameron visited some of the worst affected areas of York to offer his support (top left). Furious York residents last night demanded to know why a key flood barrier was opened, leaving swathes of the city it was built to protect under water. Around 600 homes and businesses in supposedly safe areas of the city were flooded for the first time in decades (top) when the River Foss burst its banks following the Boxing Day deluge. Properties near the river have been saved from flooding for many years by a £3.3million barrier between the Foss and the River Ouse, which stops surges of floodwater from topping the river banks. But on this occasion, as torrential rain caused a dramatic increase in river levels, a decision was made to 'lift' the barrier - effectively removing it from the city's flood defence system when it was most needed (graphic explains why, bottom).