Alan Orchard steered his Osprey 5 hovercraft along the tight streets of Wraysbury in Berkshire to take the 90-year-old from her home.

He was called in to help out emergency services which could not reach residents stranded in Windsor, Berkshire.

Mr Orchard, who helps run the Association of Search and Rescue Hovercraft in his spare time, told BBC News Online the pensioner took the surprise arrival of a hovercraft on her doorstep in her stride.

'Waist-deep' water

He said: "She seemed to take it very well, although I'm not sure she knew quite what was going on.

"She was with her daughter in the house and there was no light or heating as far as I know.

"In some of the most severely-hit houses, the water was waist-deep.

"But with a hovercraft, we are not concerned whether it is six inches or six feet."

Monday's rescue operation was the first time the 50-member association - a registered charity set up five years ago - has been called out to help residents stranded because of flooding.

Together with seven colleagues and a second hovercraft, Mr Orchard, a 45-year-old accountant from Woking, Surrey, also helped deliver supplies to residents - including cat food to one concerned pet owner.