After an anxious night for hundreds of people, Medway has escaped the worst of the floods which have hit other parts of Kent.

Around 300 homes were told to evacuate just after 11pm last night. There were reports at about 1am, close to high tide, that a wall had been breached at Canal Road in Strood.

But there were some comments asking why action wasn't taken sooner. Rochester newsagent Stephen Barker, posting on Facebook, said: "Had a customer in this morning - says police knocked on her door at 1am with sandbags.

"She couldn't understand when the warnings were given out all day yesterday why they left it so late to act. Her next door neighbour a 85 yr (deaf) they couldn't wake him up!"

Medway Council worked with Kent Police and partner agencies on a door to door evacuation following the advice of the Environment Agency.

The streets affected were:

Strood
Canal Road
Kingswear Gardens
Wingrove Drive
Cranmere Court
Smith Street
Cuxton Road
Knight Road
Alma Street
Charles Street
Commercial Road
Roach Street

RochesterDoust Way
Hathaway Court (off Esplanade)

Lower UpnorUpnor Road
Mote Lane
Brissenden Close

St Mary’s IslandRedshank Road
Marine View
Watersmeet Road

Gillingham LowerWaterside Line
Owens Way

Upchurch
Bottom of Otterham Quay Lane

Hoo
Properties of very frontage of Hoo Marina

Lower RainhamCopperhouse Lane
Bloors Wharf Road

Residents living in these areas were advised to evacuate their properties immediately and stay with family or friends or go to the rest centre that had been set up at Strood Leisure Centre.

There were reports of isolated flooding in Pier Road, Gillingham, Canal Road, Strood and Hathaway Court, at The Esplanade, Rochester.

Flooded drains also caused some flooding at the Star Hill end of Corporation Street, Rochester.

But by 2.30am the council’s emergency control room in Gun Wharf was receiving reports of receding water levels at areas across Medway.

People were told they could return to their homes from 3am.

The council said all roads are now passable and the Medway Tunnel was reopened at 4am this morning.

The flood gates at Canal Road have also been reopened.

The Environment Agency is still warning about high water levels on the Hoo Peninsula and Isle of Grain and in parts of the Medway Towns at high tide at 2.45pm this afternoon.

Medway Council said people must remain vigilant.