Skip to content

South East flooding: Heavy rain disrupts travel

BBC FloodingBBC
Peartree Hill is flooded near Burwash in East Sussex

Heavy rain has led to flooding and transport disruption across the South East.

Nearly half a month's worth of rain was recorded in parts of East Sussex, according to the Environment Agency.

Some rail lines were blocked by flooding, and the A267 Heathfield Road was temporarily impassable due to flooding and a broken down lorry.

The A27 was partially blocked at Bolney in West Sussex. Crown Lane in Virginia Water, Surrey, is currently blocked.

Peartree Hill near Burwash is also underwater and nearby fields have flooded.

DFDS Ferries said its services were delayed due to poor weather conditions on the English Channel.

In Kent the M2 was affected by flooding between junctions five and six, near Maidstone, and the A20 is closed in Harrietsham.

Network Rail said the line from Hastings to Tunbridge Wells was blocked at the Wadhurst Tunnel due to flash flooding.

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

Southern Rail warned that the line through Plumpton was blocked because of rain water running off neighbouring fields on to the track.

Lines are blocked between Lewes and Haywards Heath, with trains being diverted via Brighton. Plumpton and Cooksbridge stations will not be served.

Network Rail Flooding at PlumptonNetwork Rail
The railway line through Plumpton is blocked by water running off fields

A red flood warning has been issued for Buxted in East Sussex. Properties by the River Uck have been encouraged to install flood protection.

The Environment Agency said: "The River Uck is high and rising, following Thursday morning's heavy rain. Nearly half a month's rain has been recorded (40mm) at Buxted.

"From 09:00 on [Thursday] flooding will affect fields, rural roads, gardens and riverside properties through Buxted, near the White Hart pub and areas around Hempstead Mill on Hempstead Lane, Uckfield."

BBC Sussex FloodingBBC Sussex
A flood alert has been issed for the River Uck
BBC Sussex FloodingBBC Sussex
Riverside properties in the Buxted area are encouraged to install flood protection due to high water levels

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

Lamberhurst School in Kent was shut this morning until 11:00 GMT due to serious flooding. The back of the school is under several inches of water which flooded the cloakrooms.

A yellow weather warning for rain was in place until 15:00 across most parts of the South East.

A yellow weather warning for thunderstorms, covering coastal areas of Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex, remains in place until 06:00 on Friday.

MetOffice Yellow weather warningMetOffice
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain and thunderstorms
Presentational grey line

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].