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Flooding 'likely' as yellow weather warning is issued for Kent

Flood alerts are in force on several rivers after heavy rain battered Kent.

The Met Office had issued a yellow weather alert for downpours this morning which led to some land and roads ending up under water.

Heavy rain has caused flooding on Pested Lane off the A251 near Challock
Heavy rain has caused flooding on Pested Lane off the A251 near Challock

A statement read: "A further spell of rain, some of it heavy, is expected on Sunday morning.

"This will bring rainfall totals of 10 to 20 mm quite widely with some locations seeing as much as 30 to 35 mm.

"As much of this rain is expected to fall within a few hours localised flooding of a few properties and roads is likely to result, the latter along with spray may lead to longer journey times."

The Met Office added that 'flooding of a few homes and businesses is likely' and said bus and train services could be affected.

The Environment Agency has subsequently issued a warning about the chance of flooding near the Upper River Medway just outside Tunbridge Wells, on the the River Bourne, Upper River Stour and River Medway.

Flooding on a grassy area off Canterbury Road, Sittingbourne
Flooding on a grassy area off Canterbury Road, Sittingbourne

They have issued flood alerts for the area from Forest Row to Penshurst, from Hadlow to East Peckham and from Charing Heath to the A2070 including Ashford, communities on the East Stour, communities on the Whitewater and Ruckinge Dykes and the Aylesford Stream.

Other parts of the county at risk are Penshurst to Hampstead Lock at Yalding, including the Leigh Flood Storage area, the Ensfield Road, Tonbridge, Paddock Wood, the Hop Farm, East Peckham, Branbridges and Hale Street and from Hampstead Lock at Yalding to Allington Lock, including East Farleigh, Wateringbury, Teston and Teston Park, Tovil and Maidstone including Millennium Park.

The alert says river levels are set to rise due to the heavy rainfall and flooding of low lying land could happen.

Incident response staff are monitoring the situation and clearing any blockages and debris from rivers.

On the M20, lanes were closed earlier London bound between J6 for Maidstone and J5 (Aylesford) and between J10 and J9 at Ashford because of flooding.

Flood alerts are in force on several rivers across Kent. Picture: Environment Agency
Flood alerts are in force on several rivers across Kent. Picture: Environment Agency

Flooding and a crash also caused delays on the M2 between Sittingbourne and Gillingham.

Southeastern say flooding caused signalling problems in the Lenham area meaning services were unable to run between Maidstone East and Ashford International. They have since resumed but there is a warning of alterations and cancellations.

Trains running towards London between Sittingbourne and Newington were also suspended for a time because of rainwater on the line.

While the rain may have eased, another weather warning for strong winds has been issued for the county.

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