'I tried to save my little girl's toys'

Emma Bilson tried to salvage as much as she could when the water got into her house

People in a county hit by flooding have been describing the "heartbreaking" and "soul-destroying" effect of the heavy rainfall.

One woman in Grendon in Northamptonshire said she tried to save her little girl's toys as the water "destroyed" the ground floor of her house.

Staff at a historic house had to tear up flower beds that had been carefully tended for months to divert the water.

A woman who moved into a boat on the river on Monday had to be rescued from it on Tuesday.

In Grendon, Emma Bilson is coming to terms with not being able to live in her own house for several months.

She said: "Within a matter of 10 minutes, there was water flooding into the house.

"There was nothing we could do, it was just too quick. I've got a five-year-old little girl so I was trying to save some of her toys.

"The water has gone throughout the downstairs so it's completely destroyed."

Emma Bilson has been told she will have to move out for six months while the house is repaired

Some people whose houses have been flooded have struggled to get through to their insurance companies as they are so busy with flood-related claims.

Ms Bilson has been more fortunate, as her insurer has sent a representative round but he brought bad news: "We've been told we'll have to move out for about six months.

"We're just devastated really - it's soul-destroying."

Trevor Hicks found a "house of scum" when he arrived back there on Monday

Trevor Hicks returned to his house opposite Ms Bilson's on Monday and said he "walked into a house of scum".

He added: "We've got lined plaster all the way through, and it just sucks up the moisture. They're going to have to replaster all the rooms we've got."

Water got into the cellar at Sulgrave Manor

About 30 miles from Grendon is Sulgrave Manor, the ancestral home of George Washington.

Staff at the 16th Century historic house in Northamptonshire fought valiantly to protect the building from the devastating effect of the water, even though it meant ripping up months of work.

Alex Springford, the head gardener, said: "We were having to dig up some of the paths, some of the lawns just to try to divert some of the water away from the manor to protect some of our collection and unique items.

"It was heartbreaking having to dig up a lot of our beds, borders and lawns.

Sites along the River Nene, including Billing Aquadrome, have been inundated with water

Sapphire Blurton moved into a house boat on the River Nene in the county on Monday but had to be evacuated the following morning.

She said: "We just woke up to five firemen knocking on my door asking us if we wanted to be rescued in their raft. We gladly obliged and said 'yes'.

"It gave us a massive eye opener with the canals and rivers since we're complete novices."