Somerset floods: living underwater - in pictures

An evacuated house in Moorland. The water had risen by 2ft overnight Photograph: Matilda Temperley

Johnny Leach is one of Britain's most famous potters. He is seen here on Tuesday assessing the damage but it looks like his house will flood again from this week's storms. The kilns will take months to dry with industrial dehumidifiers after the floods subside. He has four staff who haven't been to work since 2 January because of the floods Photograph: Matilda Temperley

This is my grandfather's house last Tuesday. It was flooded for 32 days and Tuesday was the first time we could start the clear up as the water receded. The next day it reflooded and it is currently under water again. My grandfather has had to be moved. He is 98 Photograph: Matilda Temperley

It is taking children an hour to get to school by boat rather than a 10-minute drive. They were excited at first – my nephews Rufus, Phoenix and Fox have been paddling across the moors – but the novelty has worn off, and the overspill of septic tanks has made the water less appealing and more dangerous Photograph: Matilda Temperley

An abandoned car on the Langport to Muchelney road Photograph: Matilda Temperley

James Winslade’s family have owned their farm for 150 years over three generations. Now 95% of it is underwater. Last year he lost £160,000 due to flooding and had to clear 35 tonnes of rubbish from his land in the clean-up; this year there is likely to be an even greater impact. People’s livelihoods are being ruined. The floods have both an emotional and a financial cost Photograph: Matilda Temperley

Another flood victim in Langport Photograph: Matilda Temperley

James Winslade's house Photograph: Matilda Temperley

My father, Julian, in my grandfather's house. My grandfather is the oldest resident of Thorney at 98 and was evacuated on New Year's Day. The water has been at least this deep, if not deeper, since then. His house is the oldest in Thorney and until last year it had not flooded since 1926 Photograph: Matilda Temperley

Ian Liddell Grainger in Langport. Grainger is the MP for Bridgewater and West Somerset and has been at the forefront of the fight for dredging Photograph: Matilda Temperley

Prince Charles arrived by boat in the village of Muchelney. He met villagers and farmers who gave him a very warm welcome before putting him on a makeshift throne – a wooden bench – which was fastened to a trailer and pulled behind a tractor for him to inspect a flooded farm. Charles donated £50,000 of his own money to help the flood victims (he also admired my neoprene chest waders!) Photograph: Matilda Temperley

The river Parrett in Langport Photograph: Matilda Temperley

Waves form in the middle of a road Photograph: Matilda Temperley

James Winslade's cows waiting to be evacuated Photograph: Matilda Temperley

James Winslade and fellow farmers load the cows to be evacuated Photograph: Matilda Temperley

The first in the convoy of trailers evacuating James Winslade's cows finds the ditch Photograph: Matilda Temperley

Five hundred cows were rescued by farmers in a convoy of tractors and trailers driving through deep water Photograph: Matilda Temperley

My father, Julian, has been driving me around in his tractor, otherwise I would have had to canoe. It takes so long to get anywhere. Everyone is shocked by the depth of the water; people are even having to sail across the hay fields Photograph: Matilda Temperley

A stable in Moorland Photograph: Matilda Temperley

The view from Burrow Mump Photograph: Matilda Temperley

Getting home in Thorney Photograph: Matilda Temperley