A Debenham man used a homemade paddle boat which he built for his grandchildren to rescue elderly people trapped in their homes.

Storm Babet caused chaos in Debenham on Friday, with schoolchildren stranded after it was deemed too unsafe to transport them home.

East Anglian Daily Times: Simon O'Brien (left) using his homemade boat, which he built for his grandchildren, to rescue elderly residents from their home in the village of Debenham, Suffolk, where people were cut off by flood water during Storm Babet.Simon O'Brien (left) using his homemade boat, which he built for his grandchildren, to rescue elderly residents from their home in the village of Debenham, Suffolk, where people were cut off by flood water during Storm Babet. (Image: Mary Scott/PA Wire)

The rural village was cut off by flooding, while tractors were being used to rescue people caught in the flood water.

Around 50 people were sheltering in the local leisure centre there and sleeping on crash mats overnight, staff said.

East Anglian Daily Times: Simon O'Brien (right) using his homemade boat, which he built for his grandchildren, to rescue elderly residents from their home in the village of Debenham, Suffolk, where people were cut off by flood water during Storm Babet.Simon O'Brien (right) using his homemade boat, which he built for his grandchildren, to rescue elderly residents from their home in the village of Debenham, Suffolk, where people were cut off by flood water during Storm Babet. (Image: Mary Scott/PA Wire)

Leaping to the rescue, Simon O’Brien used his homemade paddle boat to rescue elderly neighbours who had been left trapped in their homes by the flood water.

His partner Mary Scott told the PA news agency: “It’s been sitting in the garden all summer waiting for an opportunity to launch.

“His family have teased him mercilessly about its ‘seaworthiness’ but it floats and came in very useful.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Simon O'Brien (right) using his homemade boat, which he built for his grandchildren, to rescue elderly residents from their home in the village of Debenham, Suffolk, where people were cut off by flood water during Storm Babet.Simon O'Brien (right) using his homemade boat, which he built for his grandchildren, to rescue elderly residents from their home in the village of Debenham, Suffolk, where people were cut off by flood water during Storm Babet. (Image: PA/Mary Scott)

East Anglian Daily Times: Simon O'Brien (right) using his homemade boat, which he built for his grandchildren, to rescue elderly residents from their home in the village of Debenham, Suffolk, where people were cut off by flood water during Storm Babet.Simon O'Brien (right) using his homemade boat, which he built for his grandchildren, to rescue elderly residents from their home in the village of Debenham, Suffolk, where people were cut off by flood water during Storm Babet. (Image: Mary Scott/PA Wire)