Between 100 and 150 Rumanians had to be evacuated from a makeshift camp in Villalba de los Barros after the river near which the camp had been set up, burst it banks as a result of heavy rains and swept away all the immigrants' belongings.

In response, the town council has converted the local sports centre into a temporary refuge centre and the Red Cross has supplied beds, blankets and toiletries while the manager of the local Carrefour store sent several boxes of food.

Last night's torrential rains flooded homes, roads and garages in towns across the Tierra de Barros borough, though no casualties have been reported.