In pictures: Italy battles floods

Days of heavy rain have caused severe disruption in northern Italy, though a let-up in the weather is giving rescue workers hope.

The main industrial centres of Turin and Milan have been inundated by the flood waters, essential services have been cut off and thousands of people have had to leave their homes.

More 7,000 rescue workers and volunteers have been deployed across the region to help those stranded by flooding

Firefighters take residents to safety in Turin; thousands are homeless in the Piedmont region around the city

The Chisone river at nearby Pinerolo shows evidence of its destructive path through the mountains

Most affected is the north-western Aosta valley, where people were plucked off roofs after rising waters entered their homes

Industrial areas have been hard hit: Car maker Fiat shut three factories, 200 roads were closed and many bridges destroyed

Two of Italy's biggest lakes have overflowed into towns. Parts of Feriolo fell victim to flooding from Lake Maggiore

It was the same story in Verbania - but at least one inhabitant of the town was able to take advantage of the situation