HELICOPTER crews from RAF Odiham have been deployed to help in the fight against severe flooding in the north of England.

Chinooks from the Hampshire base have been flying to Yorkshire to airlift in supplies to repair flood barriers in York.

On Monday, one of the aircraft winched in supplies to repair the Foss barrier in the city.

According to the Met Office, parts of Lancashire, Cumbria and Yorkshire saw record rainfall in December, leaving hundreds of homes and businesses under water as rivers burst their banks.

The cost of the damage is estimated to be at least £1.5bn.