Firefighters rescue driver stuck in flood water

A person has been rescued from a van which became stuck in flood water in East Sussex.

The driver was helped to safety in Barcombe at about 11:15 GMT on Friday, according to East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

"Members of the public are recommended not to drive through flood water, which creates a dangerous situation which may result in someone being rescued," a fire service spokesperson said.

Several flood warnings had been issued across Surrey, Sussex and Kent following a yellow weather warning for heavy rain on Thursday.

Government flood warnings were put in place for the River Mole at Brockham and Pixham, the Kidbrooke Stream and River Medway near Forest Row, and the River Teise and Lesser Teise between Horsmonden and Claygate.

They were also in place on the River Adur near Shermanbury, the Cuckmere and Bull Rivers at Hellingly, Horsebridge, and Alfriston, and the River Ouse near Haywards Heath, Newick, and Mount Pleasant.

On Friday morning, BBC Radio Surrey reporter Adrian Harms reported that the River Mole had "spilled out" near Old School Lane in Brockham.

Flooding was expected to start impacting the region in the early hours of Friday morning.

The government said people in the affected areas should move people, pets and valuables to a safe place and higher ground; turn off gas, electricity and water in their home if it is safe to do so; and put flood protection equipment in place.

It added that it was "closely monitoring the situation".

The A26 near Poundgate was shut due to flooding and the A264 Crawley Road was closed westbound because of flooding between Horsham Road in Crawley and Moorhead Roundabout in Horsham.

Emma Seymour, manager of Cabin Cafe off the A264 in Faygate, said: "We've lost a lot of trade this morning. There's not a lot we can do.

"People are using different routes and avoiding the area because of the chaos it's caused."

She says flooding of the road happens "every year".

"As soon as we get rain it gets flooded."

West Sussex County Council has confirmed Faygate Roundabout has since reopened.

The local authority said there had been "a small number of instances where members of the public attempted to move cones or closure signs".

It has asked people not to move traffic management equipment.

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