CREWS worked to fix damage to a seafront groyne amid the arrival of Storm Christoph. 

A 36-hour rain warning has been issued across Sussex and the south of England. 

The coast was hit by 20mph winds and heavy rain last night with gusts of up to 47mph expected this evening.

The Argus:

Pictures from Hove seafront this morning show the workers fixing a beach groyne with power tools and a digger. 

Pebbles have been scattered across the promenade with some seafront walkways covered in stones. 

Communities are braced for flooding as Storm Christoph brings “significant” rainfall across large swathes of the UK.

The Argus:

Major incidents have already been declared in Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire amid amber and yellow weather warnings for the storm, which could also bring snow to northern areas.

More than 120mm of rain has already fallen in parts of the country, with 123.4mm at Honister Pass in Cumbria in the 24 hours up to 6am on Wednesday.

The yellow Met Office alert, in place throughout today and lasting until noon tomorrow, forecasts "spells of heavy rain which may lead to travel disruption and flooding in places".

People in affected areas have been told to expect:

  • Flooding of a few homes and businesses 
  • Bus and train services to be affected with journey times taking longer
  • Spray and flooding on roads making journey times longer
  • Some interruption to power supplies and other services 

Met Office forecaster Grahame Madge described Christoph as “quite a slow-moving system” which is bringing “a variety of weather” to the UK.

The meteorologist said: “While rain remains the main hazard in the south, further north we’ve got snow and ice remaining a risk.

The Argus:

“The system will work its way through, we are expecting significant totals of rainfall and when you combine that with snowmelt it can lead to localised flooding across the affected regions.”

Fifty flood warnings have been issued across England, with 175 less severe flood alerts. 

Two areas in Sussex – Western Rother and Upper River Stour – have been given a yellow warning, meaning “flooding is possible”.