Experts are predicting that Chichester could face a repeat of the 1994 floods which engulfed the city and surrounding villages.

The Environment Agency says the latest downpour is likely to lead to the River Lavant breaking its banks by the end of the week.

Agency spokesman Ray Kemp said there was nowhere else for rainwater from the saturated south downs to go but into the already badly swollen river.

The first area likely to suffer from flooding is at Westhampnett close to the main A27 trunk road where six years ago the army was called in to build pontoon style bridges to keep traffic flowing. Emergency plans are already being drawn up including drafting in extra pumping equipment and sandbags. Wartime Green godess fire engines used during the last crisis to pump water away from the city are also on stand-by.

Mr Kemp said if Chichester did escape serious flooding this week the river would be a constant worry for the city for months to come because it was unusual for the Lavant to be so swollen by the beginning of November.

He said: "The last floods took place during January and February so the condition of the Lavant is going to be a constant worry for the rest of the winter."

The agency is hoping that major improvements since 1994 to Victorian culverts which take the river through Chichester and out to sea will avoid a major disaster for shops and home owners. The last time the river broke its banks the culverts were unable to cope sending millions of gallons of water cascading into the Hornet shopping area and flooding nearby homes.