HEAVY overnight rain has left some roads in Kent barely passable and businesses cleaning up after floods.

Met office reports show 30 millimetres of rain fell in the Maidstone area in just two hours at around 8pm last night.

Larkfield was particularly badly affected and staff at the Kent Messenger offices in New Hythe Lane had to battle to keep the water away from the presses as the Kent Messenger went to print. The rain also hit the Tesco store at Lunsford Park although staff managed to keep the shop open.

Fresh foods manager Danny Roberts said: “We did have a bit of flooding but we kept trading as normal and managed to keep the customers happy. Fortunately our deliveries were not affected overnight.”

Drinkers at The Bricklayers Arms had their evening pints interrupted by the rain as water two inches deep ran down the road past the New Hythe Lane pub

Landlord Gary Archer said: “It was running past like a river and coming into the foyer.

“My wife who was working at the time had to barricade the door to stop the water coming in too far.

“We think there was sewage mixed in with it as well because the drains could not cope with it and every time a lorry came down the road it was splashing all up the windows.

“Luckily we managed to keep the pub open and there isn’t too much damage but customers don’t want to drink in those conditions.”

Met office spokesman Dominic Woolatt said: “We quite often have heavy showers at this time of year but that is a lot of rain to fall in such a short space of time.

“It is not necessarily the amount of rain that causes the problem but when it falls very

Roads including the A228 at Snodland and the A20 London Road near Hermitage Lane were both affected and remained flooded this morning.

At another pub thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused by the flash floods but drinkers carried on regardless.

Water poured in through the door of The Monks Head in New Hythe Lane, Larkfield, as heavy rain fell at around 7.40pm last night. The bar and cellar areas were under around four inches of water at the height of the incident, which were left covered in muck and debris.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service attended and shut off the power. But around 20 customers remained inside the pub because conditions outside were even worse.

“We got some candles out,” said licensee Sharon Dalton. “You couldn’t go out, couldn’t open the front door. It was like a river.”

Drinkers were able to keep their feet dry by moving to the pub’s top bar, up a step.

Staff kept serving as much as they could without power - and regulars stood, watched and carried on drinking. “They were trying to crack jokes,” said Miss Dalton.

Barrels floated around the cellar as water poured in through the door - made worse by passing vehicles. “Every time a motor came by it was like a tidal wave,” said Miss Dalton

The water receded at around 11pm, revealing the mess left behind in the pub, which underwent a £5,000 refurbishment in July.

“We’ve got no power, no sockets in the bar. I’ve got thick scum all the way round. The carpets are ruined - it’s covered in leaves and brown muck from the road. It is demoralising. We have put all that money into it."

Despite the damage, it will be business as usual at the Monk’s Head tonight. We’ve got to open,” said Miss Dalton.