Firefighter Pete Cleary explained the battle to prevent an electricity sub-station in Ferry Hinksey Road from flooding.

He said: "It's the main power sub-station that covers most of Oxford, including the hospitals. I believe the hospitals have now diverted their power source to somewhere else.

"The last thing we need now is the power to cut out across the city. The sub-station is like a village - it's quite big.

"We have been pumping for the last three days and its up to five feet deep in the basement.

"We are pumping it out, to keep the water away from the electrics to ensure residents of Oxford have electricity.

"The danger is if the river goes, we are not going to be able to pump it out, so the electricity will cut out."