A student from Macclesfield has been hailed a hero for rescuing drivers stranded in the Cumbrian floods.

Harry Gibson, from Wincle, was in a group of off-road vehicle enthusiasts who leapt into action in the aftermath of storm Desmond.

The 20-year-old and his university pals spent more than four hours rescuing fellow motorists - including a family with a baby - and even stepped in to prevent a wedding being ruined.

But modest Harry denied his actions were heroic.

He said: “I have never seen rain like it. It was pretty intense. We just did what anyone would do to help people out. I’m no hero.”

Harry and his girlfriend Hannah Gill, 20, had gone up to the Lake District with friends to spend the weekend “green-laning”, which involves driving along unsurfaced roads only passable in 4x4 vehicles.

He said: “It was pretty dangerous so we didn’t get much green-laning done.

“There was flooding everywhere.

“We came across quite a few people who needed help.

“We were in a number of off-road vehicles so were able to help different groups.

“One car contained a whole family including a small baby.

“We also came across a woman who was trying to get to a wedding venue to decorate it.

Tired and very wet, the group still managed to drive a green lane – but faced further watery tests for their driving and mechanical skills.

Harry said: “We came out of the lane and on the only road back was the worst flood we’d seen all day. It was almost bonnet height. There were four cars and a tractor which needed help.”

“We enjoyed helping,” he added. “Anyone would have done the same.”

Praising their efforts Zoe Dixon, who was rescued by the group, said: “I had gone through the flood and my car broke down.

“The students were all so kind and they managed to get us to the hotel we were decorating for a wedding.

“It was fun in the Land Rovers as I haven’t been in one for years. They were great and I can’t thank them enough.”

Harry lives on Springfields Farm on Minn End Lane, Wincle, with his mum and step-dad Andrea and Philip Bailey.

He is in his third year studying agriculture at Harper Adams University, in Shropshire.