West Kent remains on high alert for flooding today, as rain and strong winds are expected to batter the county.

As of 12noon on Sunday, 84 flood warnings remained in place across the South East.

They include those for the River Medway between Hampstead Lock and Allington Lock and Hampstead Lock and Tonbridge, with high waters reported downstream at East Peckham.

There is also a warning in place for the River Beult from Pluckley and Bethersden to Hampstead Lock, meaning flooding is expected.

Flood alerts, which mean flooding is possible, are live for Tonbridge, Paddock Wood, East Peckham, East Farleigh, Wateringbury, Teston, Tovil, Maidstone, Yalding, Smarden and Headcorn.

Water levels stabilised at Yalding at 8pm last night and river levels at Maidstone were expected to peak this morning.

Currently, water levels are 2.07m high in the River Medway, submerging river side paths and underpasses. Typically it is between 0.23m and 1.25m.

On Friday fire crews helped evacuate people from Little Venice Country Park and Marina in the village, which has been flooded four times since Christmas.

Maidstone Borough Council has delivered sandbags to vulnerable areas and knocked on the doors of residents at risk in Yalding and at the Quarries in Boughton Monchelsea.

The MET office have issued a yellow weather warning, forecasting heavy rain for most of Kent into today.

Between 2-5mm of rain is predicted to fall between Sunday and Monday.

This morning a man in his 90s was taken to hospital, after being rescued from his flood-stricken car in Hawkhurst.

Various roads have been closed due to the weather.

They include:

• Hawkenbury Road, Headcorn
• Water Lane, Headcorn
• West Street, Hunton
• Green Lane, Marden
• Addlestead Road, East Peckham
• Old Road, East Peckham
• Tonbridge Road, East Peckham
• Bow Hill, Wateringbury

Kent Police is advising drivers to stay away from flooded areas and avoid driving through water if possible.

Elsewhere, flood warnings have been downgraded to alerts for properties on the Teise in Lamberhurst and Goudhurst, the River Bourne between Hadlow and East Peckham and those on the River Medway between the Leigh Barrier and Tonbridge.

A spokesman said: “The Leigh Flood Storage Area will be in operation throughout the weekend and we do not expect further flooding of property at this stage.

"We will be monitoring this situation closely as the forecast remains changeable and will provide updates where necessary."