A volunteer Coastguard team has revealed details of water rescues over the Christmas period.

As river levels rose on Christmas Eve, a member of the public reported cries of help coming from the River Medway in the Fant area.

When Coastguard officers arrived they found a 58-year-woman on a barge that was being renovated to turn into a house boat.

As the Medway burst its banks and the river began flowing faster, she was concerned the boat would break its moorings and crash into a bridge.

John Gore, Medway Coasguard station officer said: "We walked along what was the river footpath to her boat. Then we tied a line - a rope - to a big tree and and officers waded into the water.

"When we got there we found she was there with two dogs and the battery on her mobile phone was running low."

The rescue was performed by fixing a wooden plank onto the boat to help the woman off. A lifejacket was placed on her before she was connected to the line. She was guided by officers and had to walk slowly through the high water and back onto dry land."

The dogs were also taken to safety and got off the barge first.

Mr Gore added: "We had to prod the ground in front of us as we went. The big danger in floods is that manhole covers have worked loose and you can fall down them."

The woman was taken to a nearby pub, where she was checked over by paramedics and collected by her family, who have since thanked the coastguard.

Later on Christmas eve, teams from Medway, Sheppey and Herne Bay began evacuating the Little Venice Caravan Park in Yalding. The high water had begun rocking several of the homes.

During the day many people had opted to stay in their caravans, but by the early hours of Christmas Day, water had reached 6-7ft, prompting everyone to request help.

Richard Rodgers, Coastguard deputy station officers said: "We borrowed boats from the nearby marina.

"We had identified Yalding Station as the best place of safety as it is high up, so we guided people in boats towards it. As we reached the road, the water level wasn't so high, so they had to get out of the boats, and then back in as the road went into a dip. The station was only a few hundred yards away but it was a tricky rescue.

"Some people had pets which needed rescuing too and we called in the ambulance service for woman who had become hypothermic with the cold temperatures."

Around 30 officers were on the scene and a coastguard helicopter called from Leigh-On-Sea landed in Paddock Wood to provide assistance.

Mr Rodgers added: "We were finished just before 4am on Christmas Day, but that was lucky, as water was rising on both sides around Yalding Station. If we were any longer we would have been marooned."

He also praised the work of other organisations and volunteers involved, including Kent Police, the fire service, South East 4 x 4 volunteers.