These extraordinary photos show how a Lake District town is battling against the most severe flooding to hit since 2015.

Picturesque Ambleside has endured two days of intense rainfall which swelled Lake Windermere to its highest levels since Storm Desmond struck six years ago.

Emma Spencer of the 4* hotel The Waterdge Inn joked their beer garden had become an infinity pool, one of the Lake District’s most luxurious attractions.

She told Metro.co.uk: ‘We’re currently sandbagging the doors to try to prevent it coming in.

‘We’re right on the water’s edge. The beer garden is an infinity pool, it’s completely covered by the lake.’

Despite the deluge the hotel and restaurant manages to remain open and Emma said customers with weekend bookings have been contacted with the option to cancel their stay.

She added: ‘It’s just going to be a little touch and go over the next few days.’

The photos show park benches underwater, residents hopping to avoid the creeping water and cars beign driven undeterred through deep water.

The Environment Agency said Windermere – England’s largest lake – may get even higher still as it kept a flood warning active.

Its warning reads: ‘River levels remain high following prolonged rainfall, and as a consequence, Windermere Lake levels continue to rise slowly.

‘Flooding is expected to remain a risk to low lying commercial and residential properties, camping, caravan sites and leisure facilities on the shores of Windermere today.

‘Avoid using low lying roads and footpaths and any bridges near local watercourses, do not attempt to walk or drive through flood water.’

TheLakesTony of the national park authority in Cumbria tweeted: ‘Teams have done a brilliant job clearing surface flooding.

‘The only major issues remaining are where the Lakes have overtopped. This includes East of Coniston, Waterhead, Howtown and Pooley Bridge (A592 junction).’

Across the country there are 12 active warnings (meaning flooding is expected), and 38 alerts (flooding is possible).

The Met Office’s amber rain warning for Cumbria has been downgraded to yellow, so Ambleside may have already felt the worst of it.

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