A flood alert has today been issued across large parts of Kent.

Homeowners from Maidstone to Medway and as far as Queenborough are being warned to start acting on their flood plans after a warning was announced.

Officers at the Environment Agency revealed areas at high risk include those on the Tidal Medway, Medway Estuary and Isle of Grain including Aylesford, Medway Towns, Lower Halstow, Middle Stoke and Lower Stoke.

Other areas in danger include Dartford and Greenhithe.

People are being told to avoid using low lying footpaths or entering areas prone to flooding and to start acting on their flood plans if they have one.

The alert says water levels are rising at Allington Lock and Marina, Queenborough and Sheerness.

It comes after heavy rainfall over the weekend when flood alerts were issued for other parts of Kent.

There has been a yellow weather warning in place for heavy rainfall.

Today, the Met Office has issued another yellow warning due to a potential risk to life as winds up to 80mph are expected to batter the English Channel.

Storm Ciarán will bring very strong gales to the south of the UK, including all of Kent, from Wednesday evening.