Hundreds of people had to spend the night away from their homes after severe flooding in Lincolnshire. The heavy rain has been causing problems and more is expected.

For live updates on flooding in Lincolnshire please click here:

People have been warned they may need to stay out of their homes in Lincolnshire for up to 48 hours.

Cars at Tollbar Academy in Grimsby were damaged by two masked moped riders wielding hammers.

People are told to evacuate about 580 Lincolnshire homes amid fears a river could again burst its banks.

Three Chinooks dropped bags of aggregate to repair the bank of the River Steeping in Wainfleet.

Crews drop more than 100 tonnes of ballast in an operation to plug a bank on the River Steeping.

We're wrapping up our live coverage of today's events in Wainfleet where scores of homes have been evacuated after the River Steeping burst its banks.

Here are the latest headlines:

• Around 70 homes in the town evacuated

• RAF helicopters drop 100 tonnes of sand to block breach

• Operation to shore-up River Steeping declared a "success"

• Four flood warnings remain in force across the county
• Emergency services remain in Wainfleet to support community

• 132 people working on incident and three high volume pumps in use
• Residents urged not to return home until told it is safe to do so
• Boston-Skegness rail service suspended until at least Tuesday

Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt has paid tribute to the skill and hard work of the servicemen and women involved in efforts to plug a breach in the banks of the River Steeping:

Lincolnshire Police are advising those evacuated from their homes due to flooding in Wainfleet not to return until they are told it is safe:

Two RAF Chinooks and a support helicopter have spent the day dropping more than 100 tonnes of sand and ballast in an effort to plug a breach in the River steeping near Wainfleet:

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

Image source, Joint Helicopter Support Squadron

Image source, Joint Helicopter Support Squadron

The Environment Agency keeps some of the country's most powerful portable flood defences in Cumbria, but when the rain falls somewhere else, it goes where it is needed most.

It has barely stopped raining for a week in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, and a burst dyke cause serious flooding in some areas.

A helicopter operation to stop water flooding out of a Lincolnshire river has been hailed a success.

More than 100 tonnes of ballast and sand have been dropped into a breach in the River Steeping since it burst its banks on Wednesday, flooding scores of homes in nearby Wainfleet.

Ian Reed, the Head of Emergency Planning in Lincolnshire, said: "We're confident that we are definitely seeing a change and, whilst water levels are not going to go down really quickly, it is helping and it's doing exactly what we wanted it to do.

"So, that operation has been a success.

"It's a temporary measure but it's doing what it set out to achieve."

He said he hoped the operation would be completed by 18:00 this evening.

A couple from Wainfleet have been handing out food and drink to emergency workers tackling flooding in the town.

Glen and Jane Bauckham have avoided the worst of the flooding but said they wanted to thank those who have been drafted in to help.

Today they've been handing out food to firefighters who have been pumping water from their street.

Mr Bauckham said: "We brought them coffee and toast and paracetamol, as some weren't feeling good.

"The emergency services are doing their best and they're really good. It's really appreciated."

Mrs Bauckham added: "We've never been in this situation before. I've been here most of my life and this hasn't happened before. It's brought the community together."

Three RAF helicopters have been drafted in to help plug a major breach of the River Steeping.

More than 100 tonnes of ballast and sand have already been airlifted in to place and the work is expected to continue for several hours.

This footage, from Lincolnshire Police Drones, shows one of the aircraft in action:

People living in Wainfleet have spoken of their "disbelief" and "exhaustion" after heavy rain flooded scores of properties in the town.

Mark Baumber said he couldn't believe how quickly the water began to rise and how difficult it had been to watch as people were forced from their homes.

He said: "To see people being evacuated past your doorway in boats, words can't describe it really, it's unbelievable."

Meanwhile, Lauren Horne said she had been unable to sleep.

She said: "I hear the sirens, I see the blue lights, I hear the helicopters, I hear the communication that everyone has.

"It's exhausting, it's tiring, you don't sleep. I haven't slept since Wednesday; but you've just got to deal with it."

Lincolnshire Police say there hasn't been a second breach of the River Steeping at Wainfleet despite some reports.

Earlier, police drones were circling above the river bank to assess the situation.

Meanwhile, dozens of homes have been evacuated, other properties are without electricity and five flood warnings remain in force.

Lincolnshire County Council say they have been "overwhelmed" by offers of support in response to the flooding in Wainfleet.

Among those to have stepped in to help were Lincoln City Football Club who treated more than 50 members of staff working through the night at the emergency response centre, which backs on to the club's Sincil Bank ground, to sausage and chips.

Serious flooding in Wainfleet has sparked a string of offers of help for people affected/

Rafal Dzewiecki, a butcher from Skegness, has arrived in the town to hand out free baps.

Wainfleet isn't the only place in Lincolnshire battling against flooding caused by several days of heavy rain.

In Holbeach, staff from South Holland District Council have been busy trying to stop water getting in to the community centre in Lyndis Walk: