OVERNIGHT rain and a mid-morning deluge prevented any play on the third morning of Kent's championship match with Surrey in Canterbury.

The 11am start time on day three came and went as the ground staff continued the clear up, but their work halted just after 1pm when a downpour left the outfield soaked, toilets flooded and water pouring in through the roof of the Colin Cowdrey Stand.

Match umpires Alan Whitehead and Nigel Cowley will inspect again after the players take an early tea at 3.45pm, but prospects for play remain bleak.

When play does get underway, Surrey will resume on 263 for five - an overall lead of 37 on first innings.