Heavy rain has made driving conditions awkward for motorists across Kent.

The showers started at around 3am and are expected to last until 9pm, which forecasters warned could lead to flooding.

The Met Office announced a yellow weather warning yesterday, which has later extended to include more areas.

Motorists travelling along Frindsbury Road in Strood were met with a small river of water running down the side of the road as drains filled up.

Part of Whitewall Road, on Medway City Estate, also suffered flooding and a number of amateur football matches were postponed including some in the Medway Messenger Youth League.

Experts predicted drier weather by the evening, but warned temperatures would fall quickly.

“Rain will be persistent and heavy through much of Sunday,” said a spokesman.

“Falling on saturated ground, it is likely to cause some surface water flooding in places.

“The public should be aware of this hazard.

"The warning has now been extended westwards."

The expert said 20mm of rain could fall in places.

People have been warned to expect delays on the roads due to slower moving traffic and be aware that outdoor events may be disrupted or cancelled.

Kent County Council also issued an "operational impact warning" over the amount of rain.

A spokesman said: "We could see 10-20mm quite widely over this period but a few locations could see as much as 25-30mm.

"This rain could lead to a few minor impacts due to surface water flooding especially as it follows the wet conditions seen in the last few weeks."

The weather is also expected to affect Greater London, Surrey, West Sussex, Brigton and Hove and East Sussex.

The warning has since been extended to include Hampshire, Portsmouth, Isle of Wight, Southampton, Bracknell Forest, Buckinghamshire, Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead, West Berkshire, Wokingham, Oxfordshire and Reading.