Environment Agency officers have been assisting the emergency services to pump out water from properties in Herne Bay, Kent, following flooding overnight.

It is believed more than 60 properties, mainly basement flats in Central Parade and Mortimer Street, were affected by flooding during heavy rainfall around 3.30am on Thursday 26 August. Latest rainfall figures show that the area received up to 30 mm during the course of yesterday and overnight.

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Kent Fire and Rescue Service were leading the response, but the Environment Agency sent six Incident Response officers who deployed five pumps in some of the properties.

The incident was not caused by flooding from the Plenty Brook and no flood watches have been issued for this stretch of river.

Tim Connell, Environment Agency Area Operations Delivery Manager, said: "This is clearly an upsetting incident for the residents who have been affected. Because of the severity of the property flooding we decided to deploy staff with pumps to help the response effort. The exact cause of the incident is still under investigation."

(CD/BMcC)