A flood alert has been issued for parts of Kent as high tides threaten coastal towns and villages.

The Environment Agency predicted a 4.6 metre tide would hit Rye Harbour at 1.30pm today, with flooding predicted for many areas around Dungeness including Lydd, Camber, Winchelsea Beach, Pett Level and the tidal Rother.

North Kent is also at risk with a high tide of 3.3 metres at Sheerness earlier today at 2.45pm.

Affected areas include Sheppey and the north Kent coast from Kemsley to Seasalter, including Sheerness, Minster, Queenborough, Leysdown on Sea, Sittingbourne and Faversham.

An environment Agency spokesman said: "We are currently experiencing high astronomic tides, also known as spring tides, around our coast and a number of flood alerts have been issued in response to this.

"An astronomic tide is the regular and predictable movement of water caused by the way that the earth, sun and moon move in relation to each other."

The alerts will remain in force until tomorrow.

Roads close to Faversham Creek are expected to flood, and the Environment Agency has predicted a similarly high tide again on Wednesday next week.

For more information you can call the Environment Agency's Floodline on 0345 988 1188 or 0845 988 1188.