Flood victims from Darton to Lundwood, Darfield and Bolton were on high alert as water levels continued to rise.

Northern Rail this morning suspended services between Sheffield and Barnsley due to severe flooding.

The Environment Agency yesterday issued a Flood Alert covering the River Dearne and its tributaries from Denby Dale to Mexborough and the River Don which runs through Penistone.

The Dearne Valley Parkway was also underwater at Brampton this morning.

Meanwhile, the Met Office issued a severe weather warning with heavy rain expected to continue until 8pm tonight.

All 10 families on the Ings gypsy site in Low Valley, Wombwell, have packed up their belongings in plastic boxes ready to flee the site which was totally washed out last summer.

Connie Smith, aged 72, said: "This is how we have to live now. I've bought lots of boxes and I've packed everything away. I can't lose everything again.

"My family have clubbed together and bought me new furniture, washing machine and everything. But nobody will insure us for it and it's just not fair."

Some 638 homes, 80 businesses and two residential care homes in Barnsley were flooded last summer with residents in Darfield and Lundwood submerged twice in just two weeks.

Ton Baker, of Church View, Darfield, is still living in a caravan behind his home after being flooded last year. He said: "We're watching the river very closely. We're all on tenterhooks down here."

Meanwhile, anxious residents in Darton saw the river Dearne rise to within inches of a footbridge at Longfields near Mill Lane - one of the worst-affected streets last June.

Resident Lance Dobson is still living in a caravan.

He said: "The annoying thing about it is the Environment Agency has done nothing whatsoever to help the river level drop. There is a tree blocking the flow that needs taking out. I have been out of the house six months now and there is nothing I can personally do."

Coun Linda Burgess said she had concerns about the positioning of Environment Agency monitoring equipment.

"They were saying the water was not hitting targets but I will be asking if it's in the right place."

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