A high tide on the River Medway, already swollen by heavy rain last weekend, has proved too much for the river's defences.

Yesterday the watercourse broke through the river dyke near Ringshill Farm between Wouldham and Borstal, flooding into the field beyond and leaving the public footpath walk along the top of the bund impassable.

Watch: drone footage taken by Martin Wood

The 5-metre high earth bund was constructed around 1954 and forms part of a public right of way link between Aylesford and Rochester Cathedral.

The Environment Agency, which is responsible for its upkeep, was aware the section that has been breached needed repair, but the water has broken through before the maintenance work could be carried out.

The agency is now proposing to make a temporary repair in the early part of next week, with a permanent construction to follow later.

The repair will not come soon enough for Ringshill Farm, where the owners have had to move the cattle that usually graze the field.

They are concerned that if the land remains flooded with the salt water from the river for any length of time, the grass will die off and take a long time to recover even after the breach has been fixed.

There is a second break in the dyke just south of St Mary's Church at Burham.

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