Rye comes close to flooding

Torrential rain for two days on Sunday and Monday saw rivers in the area being placed on flood alert by the Environment Agency.

The worst hit area was Rye's Old Brickyard where gardens were submerged after a stream running off surrounding fields turned into a torrent.

One couple had to call in specialist contractors with pumping equipment as the water continued to rise toward their door.

Home owner Michael Short said: "The steam runs down from the top of Udimore Hill and its course runs alongside our house.

"When it rains the stream overflows into our garden causing extensive damage.

"This event happens two to three times a year."

Roads on the Tilling Green estate have flooded in the past and Rye has narrowly averted a much more serious situation when the River Tillingham has come within inches of bursting its banks on two occasions.

Rye councillor Granville Bantick has long warned of the dangers and said: "I can only see it getting worse.

"We were lucky that at the height of the rain this time it was low tide so the rivers were just about able to cope.

"I can see real problems when the new housing estate is built off Udimore Road.

"There will be greatly increased run-off from all the concrete and hard surfaces.

"The developers have said they will use water tanks to solve this but it remains to be seen if this will work.

"I used to live at Brickyard myself and experienced flooding. Part of the problem is that drainage ditches in the nearby fields are not maintained or kept clear."

Elsewhere in the area water on roads made driving conditions hazardous and large sections of the Brede Valley were completely under water.