A PUB landlord is facing a £50,000 repair bill after an exceptionally high tide flooded his pub.

Peter Foreman, who owns the Riverside Tavern in Canal Road, Strood, said he felt like crying after Sunday's afternoon tide ripped through his pub within a matter of minutes.

He said: "We were planning to get the pub refurbished anyway, but this is the worst thing that could have happened.

"The pub has flooded before but this is 10 times worse."

Mr Foreman and manager Shaun Mills received an automated flood warning call at 1.20pm yesterday and set about protecting the pub.

Mr Mills said: "We got a phone call to say there was a high tide so we put about 20 to 30 sandbags out and blocked all the vents up.

"But the next thing we knew there had been a flood and there was water lapping at our feet.

Mr Foreman managed to round up about 30 regulars and together they spent more than three hours mopping up the water.