A hundred soldiers who spent the night helping protect communities from rising river waters are heading for Afghanistan in a month, their commanders said tonight.

The army signallers joined firefighters, police and Environment Agency and council workers as they fought to safeguard York and the village of Cawood in the early hours of this morning.

First to be called out were 30 soldiers from 2nd Signal Regiment, based in Fulford, York, who filled and laid thousands of sandbags in Peckitt Street in the city as the River Ouse rose to almost record levels.

Another 70 soldiers were requested to assist the flood efforts in Cawood, which is near Selby, as more than 4,000 sandbags were filled and laid overnight to support the existing flood defences.

Major David Orr, who commanded the military team at the site, said: "We were working together with the other agencies near the Cawood swing bridge and 500 metres either side of it.

"There were quite a lot of properties at risk and also a pub - and you don't want to risk a pub flooding.

"The sandbags were already there in pallets and we placed them, but some of the locations were quite difficult to get to and, in some places, the lads carried the sandbags quite a distance.

"For us, this was the last day of training before we deploy to Afghanistan and, after a year of training, this was something different. We very much enjoyed the opportunity to help the local community and they made us feel very welcome."

An army spokeswoman said the regiment is due to deploy to Afghanistan for a six-month tour at the end of next month.

The soldiers will be working at several locations within Helmand Province providing telecommunications, IT and secure communications.

Lieutenant Colonel Colin Vaudin, commanding officer of 2 Signal Regiment, said: "We are very much part of the local community in North Yorkshire and were happy to join the effort as extra pairs of hands helping out with the sandbagging at what has been a very difficult time."

He said the soldiers returned to barracks at about 6am today.

York's signallers also helped out during the floods in 2000 and were subsequently awarded the freedom of the city.

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• Autumn weather September 26th

  Water Cascades past houses in Newburn, Newcastle today after yesterdays floods left them in a state of collapse.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Water Cascades past houses in Newburn, Newcastle today after yesterdays floods left them in a state of collapse.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  An aerial view showing cars travelling along the A64 Scarborough to Leeds road as it passes over flood water from the River Ouse in York, North Yorkshire, communities are being warned of the possibility of more flooding after the most intense September storm for decades left 400 homes and businesses flooded and caused widespread chaos.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  An aerial view showing the village of Sutton upon Derwent, East Yorkshire, surrounded by flood water from the nearby River Derwent as communities are being warned of the possibility of more flooding after the most intense September storm for decades left 400 homes and businesses flooded and caused widespread chaos.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  The High Street, in Newburn, Newcastle, where flooding has left business owners devastated and deposited huge amounts of mud and debris.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  The High Street, in Newburn, Newcastle, where flooding has left business owners devastated and deposited huge amounts of mud and debris.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Two actors from a tourist attraction The York Dungeon, make their way into work along a flooded street in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Residents carry sandbags to riverside properties in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Riverside offices were difficult to access with rising floodwater in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Floodwater rises in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Floodwaters rise in city centre streets in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car submerged from yesterday's floods in Newburn in Newcastle.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car submerged from yesterday's floods in Newburn in Newcastle. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 26, 2012. Communities are being warned of the possibility of more flooding after the most intense September storm for decades left homes and businesses flooded and caused widespread chaos. See PA story WEATHER Wet PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 26, 2012. Photo credit should read: Owen Humpreys/PA Wire

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car submerged from yesterday's floods in Newburn in Newcastle. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 26, 2012. Communities are being warned of the possibility of more flooding after the most intense September storm for decades left homes and businesses flooded and caused widespread chaos. See PA story WEATHER Wet PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 26, 2012. Photo credit should read: Owen Humpreys/PA Wire

• Autumn weather September 26th

  The fields surrounding Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire are flooded following countrywide storms.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Flooding in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Natalie Stroughair sandbags a taxi office in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  The bridge in the centre of Tadcaster which has been closed as flood waters from the River Wharfe continue rise.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A woman gets a piggy back ride to a Taxi Office in the centre of York, as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Watching the floodwater rise in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Office workers are evacuated from their premises in York city centre as floodwater rises in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Rescuers bid to save ailing whale

  A 26ft (8m) minke whale washed up after gale force winds and high seas at Druridge Bay, Northumberland.

• Rescuers bid to save ailing whale

  A 26ft (8m) minke whale washed up after gale force winds and high seas at Druridge Bay, Northumberland.

• Rescuers bid to save ailing whale

  A 26ft (8m) minke whale washed up after gale force winds and high seas at Druridge Bay, Northumberland.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car drives through flood water on Noahs Ark Lane, Mobberley, Cheshire.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Watching the water levels rise as riverside properties in York are under threat from the River Ouse which continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Natalie Stroughair sandbags a taxi office in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Council workers sandbag riverside properties in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A man looks over rising flood water from the River Wharfe in the centre of Tadcaster, North Yorkshire.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Watching the floodwater rise in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Watching the floodwater rise in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Elevated walkways carry pedestrians over floodwater in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A local riverside resident carries tea to Council workers who were placing sandbags at riverside properties in York as the River Ouse continues to rise today following the torrential rainfalls of the past few days.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  A resident of Knaresborough wades through water following flooding from the River Nidd in the town.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car makes its way through Rickerby Park in Carlisle after more heavy overnight rain.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Water surrounds the 18th green at Stoney Holme golf course in Carlisle after more heavy rain overnight.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Water covers the fairways at Stoney Holme golf course in Carlisle after more heavy overnight rain.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  Flood water covers grassy areas of Rickerby Park in Carlisle after more heavy overnight rain.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A cyclist avoids flood water on the closed A34 near Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  A resident of Knaresborough wades through water following flooding from the River Nidd in the town.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A van is forced to turn around after flood water closed the A34 near Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A cyclist avoids flood water on the closed A34 near Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car drives through flood water on Noahs Ark Lane, Mobberley, Cheshire.

• Autumn weather September 26th

  A car drives through flood water on Noahs Ark Lane, Mobberley, Cheshire.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  Firefighters rescue stranded motorists from a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  Firefighters rescue stranded motorists from a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  A stranded motorist is helped by a member of the emergency services after being rescued from a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  Firefighters rescue stranded motorists from a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  Residents look on in Morpeth as the water levels rise near their homes, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  Firefighters inspect a stranded lorry on a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.

• Autumn weather September 25th

  Firefighters make their way along a flooded road outside Castleford, West Yorkshire, as persistent heavy downpours continued, causing some areas to experience a whole month's rainfall in just 24 hours.