Flood alerts remain in place along the Thames, due to high river levels caused by the spring tide.

Riverside areas of Gravesend were flooded yesterday during the high tide, and an alert has been issued for the high tide forecast for this afternoon.

Environment Agency officers were seen handing out self inflating flood sacks and giving advice to Gravesend residents, but they do not anticipate that property will be flooded.

The highest tide level is expected to be at 2:30pm, with flooding possible two hours either side of this time.

Areas of concern include Royal Pier Road, Gravesend - but the alert is in place from Dartford to Allhallows.

Alerts are also in place for tidal stretches of the Medway, with areas of concern including Canal Road, Strood and Upnor.

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Alerts information from the Environment Agency added: "We do not expect property flooding. Our incident response staff are checking our defences and structures and are prepared to respond if required.

"Please be careful along beaches, promenades, coastal footpaths and roads as large waves and sea spray could be dangerous.

"We are expecting higher than normal tides over the next three days and may be issuing further messages during this time."

"For those who need it, the forecast total water height at Sheerness for the 2:30pm Thursday afternoon tide is 3.50m AOD."

The flood alert can be followed at the Environment Agency website, and the message will be updated by 6pm today, or as the situation changes.

The Environment Agency also confirmed that flooding downstream from London was not influenced by the closure of the Thames barrier, which protects the capital during the high tide.

Spokesman Joe Giacomelli said: "We have closed the Thames Barrier for the third time this week and expect to again for tomorrow’s tide Friday March 13.

"The Barrier has been operated 191 times since 1982, reducing the risk of flooding to half a million properties in London.

"Flood Alerts have been issued along the North Kent Coast for this afternoon’s tide, which is part of a sequence of the second highest set of spring tides in 2020.

"However, our flood defences in the Thames Estuary are designed to allow for these level increases and mitigate the risk of flooding."

For further info please visit www.gov.uk/guidance/the-thames-barrier#how-the-thames-barrier-works

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend

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