Arsonists were suspected of starting some of the wildfires that destroyed 30 homes in south-eastern Australia, police said today.

Massive floodwaters swept across parts of Australia’s drought-parched south east, forcing hundreds of people to abandon their homes and businesses in the region’s worst deluge in nearly 40 years.

A partially-blind kangaroo was hailed a hero today after helping rescue a farmer who suffered serious head injuries when he was hit by a falling branch.

Officials warned residents to evacuate nine alpine villages today as bush fires spread across huge swathes of southeast Australia.