Heavy, prolonged rain over the next 24-hours has sparked flood alerts across Kent this evening.

The Environment Agency says river levels are expected to rise sharply as a result with roads and low lying land affected.

It has issued warnings for the communities potentially at risk and is advising people against using low lying footpaths near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers which may be flooded.

The alerts include:

The Great Stour from Charing Heath to the A270, including Ashford.

Also affected will be areas along the East Stour, beside the Whitewater and Ruckings Dykes including the Aylesford Stream.

The Plenty Brook from Eddington to the sea, including Herne Bay, the Swalecliffe Brook from near Court Lees to the sea, including Chestfield and Swalecliffe and the West Brook from the railway line to the sea including Studd Hill and Hampton.

There is also a possibility from tomorrow morning of flooding of low lying land and roads along Swalecliffe Brook in Swalecliffe, the West Brook and around Herne Bay and other local watercourses.

The River Bourne from Hadlow to East Peckham, including Golden Green and Little Mill.

Flooding is possible for the River Bourne from Hadlow to East Peckham, including Golden Green and Little Mill.

The River Beult from Pluckley and Bethersden to Hampstead Lock at Yalding, Smarden, Headcorn, Collier Street, Benover and The Lees.

The agency says its staff are closely monitoring the situation and incident response staff are on standby

To check the latest information for your area:

Visit the GOV.UK website to see the current flood warnings and view advice on what to do before, during and after a flood.

Or call Floodline on 0345 9881188 using quickdial code: 217028 .

Follow @EnvAgency and #floodaware on Twitter.

For all the forecasts, warnings and weather related news, click here.

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