A council is closing its flood gates as alerts weather alerts are issued for the county.

Canterbury City Council will close floodgates in Herne Bay and Whitstable tomorrow as a precautionary measure.

According to the Met Office, heavy downpours and gales are set to batter Kent's coastline tonight.

Showers and high winds will continue tomorrow and into the evening, with the potential of thundery storms.

The government has issued a number of severe weather warnings across the UK and placed 53 areas on flood alert.

This evening a flood warning was issued for a stretch covering Ramsgate to Romney Marsh.

Some of the 57 gates operated by Canterbury City Council will remain open, but will close if the weather worsens.

Writing on Facebook, a city council spokesman said: "The forecast will be monitored very closely over the next few days and if necessary, we will close further floodgates along our seafront.

"Our staff will be monitoring the tides and operating the sluice gates on the coastal rivers if necessary.

"There is still a fair bit of uncertainty in the forecast, so this action is about being prepared."

Read more: All the latest news from Herne Bay

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