Brisbane's Riverside Walkway washes away

The Australian city of Brisbane is preparing for the worst of its current flooding, with water levels reaching their peak.

The Brisbane River peaked at 4.46m (14.6ft) just before 0530 local time on Thursday (1930GMT Wednesday).

Dozens of suburbs and thousands of homes are inundated.

Pictures show Brisbane's Riverside Walkway being washed away from the force of the rising floodwaters.

Deputy Commissioner of the Queensland Police, Ian Stewart, said authorities had expected the famous walkway to break away.