Homeowners across Sussex have been put on alert after a series of flood warnings were issued.

The Environment Agency says heavy rain in the last few days means rivers and streams across the county are swollen and the ground is saturated.

Officials warned that with more rain forecast for the next few days there was a growing threat of serious flooding to homes and businesses.

Warnings have been put in place on the River Ouse from Isfield to Barcombe and ten areas of the county are on flood watch.

Agency spokesman Ray Kemp said conditions were similar to those that preceded the widespread floods in October 2000, when dozens of homes were engulfed.

Although there had been no reports yet of property flooding this time around, Mr Kemp said the authorities were extremely concerned.

He said: "It is highly probable some people will have a very wet start to the new year.

"The rivers of Sussex and areas of Kent just can't take any more water because there is nowhere for it to go. There was 25 to 30mm of rainfall over parts of Sussex and Kent on Thursday night."

Mr Kemp said dry weather in the area on Friday would help to relieve the pressure but heavy showers were lingering in the English Channel and could be enough to tip the balance.

He said: "We need a good week of dry weather for the water that is out in the hills to run down and out to sea but at the moment there is absolutely no sign of that happening.

"I've just been looking at the radar of the English Channel and it is a bit like a pinball game. If one of these showers comes in and hits in the wrong place, it could cause problems."

The agency is also warning people not to walk by the side of swollen rivers or to drive across flooded roads Mr Kemp said: "There is a tendency for people to walk near rivers and we are concerned for them. We are telling people to stay well away as a tremendous force of water is going through."

Agency teams worked throughout Christmas Day and Boxing Day to make sure rivers and streams did not become blocked by debris and all flood defences were working properly.

Areas on flood watch are: Cuckmere Catchment, Ems and West Sussex Rifes Catchment, Ouse and Uck Catchment, the Ouse from Lindfield to Isfield, the Brede between Sedlescombe and Rye, The Rother between Mayfield and Newenden, Lower Arun Catchment, the Adur east branch from Burgess Hill to Henfield, the Adur from Henfield to Upper Beeding and Upper Arun Catchment.