The waters rise again

Uckfield, cut in half by flood waters three weeks ago, was again flooded after the River Uck burst its banks overnight.

The water spilled into the High Street, flooding shops and businesses that were only just starting to recover after the October 12 deluge.

Photographer John Elms watched the water cascade down the street last night.

He said: "We watched it creeping up the hill - the water almost reached the top of a skip."

But police said water levels had now stabilised and only a handful of homes were flooded.

The town's fire and ambulance stations were closed because of the threat of floods, with services operating out of the police station instead.

A fire service spokesman said: "The flooding in the town itself has now gone but the same shops have been hit as before.

"It's not as bad as last time but people had just begun to rebuild their businesses and now they're back to square one. All their good work has been destroyed overnight."

More than 2in of rain fell in the region during the night. The Environment Agency reported the heaviest rainfall in Plumpton, where 2.4in fell in 12 hours.

Environment Agency spokesman Ray Kemp said: "The situation will deteriorate. There are more storms to come.

"Agency staff have done their utmost during the lull in the weather to prepare for the storms which are now hitting the region."

In West Sussex, properties were pumped out at Maidenbower, Crawley, by firefighters overnight after the Gatwick Stream overflowed into properties.

They called in a rescue boat after 50 properties were affected.

Crawley Leading Firefighter Steve Clack said: "This is the worst flooding I have ever seen in this area."

The Lavant at Chichester gave cause for concern and sandbags have been issued. A flood warning was also issued for Aldingbourne Rife.

Bosham, near Chichester, was cut off at one point and there was flooding in Keymer and Hassocks.

Residents in Bodiam Close, Brighton, suffered flooding for the third time in three weeks. Council contractors spent the night pumping away the water and supplying residents with sandbags.

Herstmonceux Castle's boiler room was flooded to a depth of 3ft.

Speed restrictions and flooding caused more misery for commuters. Off-peak Connex Brighton Express trains were running hourly instead of every 30 minutes and delays of about 15 minutes were expected on services between Brighton and Purley.

Trains out of Hastings had to be cancelled due to severe flooding at Robertsbridge and Etchingham.

Roads shut this morning included the A29 at Eastergate War Memorial and the Lidsey bends, A29 at Bury Hill, B2166 Pagham Road, College Lane at Chichester and Pond Corner on the B2233 at Yapton.

West Sussex County Council said St Margaret's School at Midhurst and Shipley Church of England School, near Horsham, would be closed because of severe weather.

The Lindfield-Walstead road flooded and drivers were forced to turn back early this morning. The A27 at Polegate was also closed due to flooding.

Between Worthing and Brighton, both the A27 Upper Brighton Road and the A259 coast road were jammed this morning after flooding on the eastbound A27 between Lancing and Shoreham.

Rush-hour queues stretching back to West Worthing and side roads were blocked after motorists trying to find a quicker route came unstuck. Police said the A27 was passable with care.

Also badly hit was Roundstone Lane in Angmering, where flooding caused rush-hour chaos with tailbacks along the A259.

The Environment Agency said river levels were rising swiftly due to the heavy rain.

The following severe flood warnings are now in force:

Western Rother - Liss to Middlehurst
River Uck - Uckfield
River Cuckmere - Hellingly to Shermans Bridge
Scrasebridge Stream (upper catchment of the River Ouse) - Lindfield and Haywards Heath, East Sussex
River Rother - Mayfield to Newenden, East Sussex/Kent borders.

River Eden and Eden Brook from Crowhurst and Blindley Heath to Penshurst
River Medway between Forest Row and Penshurst
River Adur from Burgess Hill to Henfield.