Three British backpackers have been saved after they woke up to find their campervan surrounded by crocodile-infested water.

Backpackers rescued from flood

Backpackers rescued from flood

The group were sat on top of the roof of the vehicle after the rising floodwaters in Australia surrounded the vehicle, the Metro.co.uk reports.

A spokesman for Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said: ''We received a call at about 6am this morning (7pm GMT Monday) to reports of three backpackers stranded due to flood water just off the Bruce Highway at Gordon Vale.

''The backpackers said the area was a crocodile notice area and they were concerned.' QFES water rescue teams, along with paramedics and police, raced to the scene and arrived to find the water had risen considerably since the alarm was raised.

''When we were called the water was just above the wheels. There are signs in the area warning people of the crocodiles and as they were on the phone the water continued to rise.

''It got up to around three quarters of the vehicle and they got onto the roof.''