Sussex remains at risk of flooding today as rain continued to plague the south of the country and tidal surges battered the coast.

Today 114 flood warnings are in force across the UK – with the majority in the south east. 

Sussex has escaped the threat of a red flood warning for the time being - but the agency has issued a clutch of amber flood alerts.

In Sussex four schools and a number of main roads were closed yesterday because of weather damage.

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Meanwhile police are continuing to hunt for a vulnerable Hastings woman, 76-year-old Shirley Coalbran, who went missing in the bad weather.

The Environment Agency issued a severe flood warning for Crowhurst, near Hastings, and flood alerts for the Rivers Arun, Chilt, Stor, Black Ditch and the Tortington Stream.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning, the lowest of its three levels, for “heavy showers, some of them combined with hail and thunder” until this morning in the county. Forecasters are predicting rainfall of between 0.6in (15mm) and 1in (25mm) but warned of up to 1.6in (40mm) in some areas.

Overnight on Monday Horsham fire crews spent 12 hours draining three-million litres of water from a flooded railway track using a heavy-duty pump.

It was estimated Worthing Road in Horsham could be closed for three days after a four-metre culvert collapse a during an all-night operation to clear flood water, although it is expected there will still be access for residents.

Elsewhere Loxwood Infant School, near Billingshurst, was expected to remain closed until today after flood damage to three class rooms.

Graffham Infant School, near Midhurst, and Central Junior School in Chichester, were closed yesterday because there was no heating.

Holy Cross Church of England School in Uckfield was closed yesterday and was due to reopen today after storms damaged the building.

Sussex Police issued an urgent appeal for information after a vulnerable 76-year-old went missing from Hastings. Shirley Coalbran was last seen when she went to bed at around 11pm on Monday at her home in Coghurst Road.

Sergeant Jane Batcheler said: “Shirley has mild Alzheimer’s and is known to like looking at the sea and walking along the seafront.

"We have had some very high winds in Hastings overnight so we are concerned for her welfare. If anyone has seen her please get in touch as both us and her family are extremely worried.”