Processing company 2 Sisters has confirmed that hundreds of thousands of birds died last week when two farms in North Lincolnshire were flooded by the worst tidal surge in over 30 years.

Severe storms hit the East coast of England late last week, causing widespread disruption, the closure of flood defence barriers and forcing some in coastal communities to be evacuated from their homes. The two farms, situated next to the River Humber, will require rebuilding work, set to go on into 2014.

A 2 Sisters spokesperson confirmed on Friday that 700,000 birds had died on two farms that supply the 2 Sisters poultry plant in Scunthorpe. The spokesperson said the birds were left behind when the two sites had to be evacuated "quickly," and described the situation as "unfortunate."