HOMEOWNERS and businesses in Kent are bracing themselves for the possibility of serious flooding as Environment Agency experts warned the area was on a "knife edge".

Officials placed the River Medway between Penshurst and the Leigh Barrier on flood warning over the weekend, but as rainfall was not as heavy as forecast, the threat was reduced to a flood watch.

The River Teise and Lesser Teise between Lamberhurst and Yalding, the River Medway between the Leigh Barrier, Tonbridge, Yalding and up to Allington, the Upper Medway Catchment and the River Beult from Pluckley and Bethersden to Yalding were among 27 rivers put on flood watch by the Environment Agency across Kent and East Sussex, as rain continued to fall.

But with half an inch of rain falling during the weekend, and the ground already saturated, officials warned they would have to stay on flood alert for several days.

Agency spokesman Ray Kemp said: "It is really on a knife edge. It could change at any time. We only need one of these weather systems to get stuck or to swirl back around to us and it could be really bad news. We are expecting all these rivers to be back to flood warning status by the weekend."

Agency staff have been out checking the rivers and moving debris and fallen branches from rivers which could also cause flooding and the flow is being constantly monitored.

For general advice and specific information on flooding contact the Environment Agency's Floodline on 0845 988 1188 or go to www.environment-agency.gov.uk