Winds and heavy rain batter Sussex (From The Argus)

Winds and heavy rain batter Sussex

7:32am Monday 11th June 2012 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter

Motorists are being advised not to travel in heavy rain unless absolutely necessary as storm weather hits the county.

Major roads have been closed and homes flooded as Sussex is hit by heavy rain caused by the Euro monsoon.

Last night, forecasters predicted up to 70mm would fall on Sussex as "heavy and persistent" rain moved in from the continent.

This morning, it was estimated between 40mm and 48mm fell across the county.

The A29 Shripney Road in Bognor has been closed due to flooding while heavy rain is also causing traffic problems on the A23 at Horley, A27, A2037 at Henfield and the A259 coastal road in Bognor.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue service has received more than 200 calls since midnight.

A spokesman added its crews are currently busy dealing with flooding caused by heavy rain in the Littlehampton area.

He said the biggest impact is in the area of South Terrace on Littlehampton seafront where a number of basement flats have been flooded to a depth of up to four feet.

A temporary rest centre has been set up in the Sportsdome at Littlehampton Swimming Centre for people evacuated.

There are no reports of any injuries, but people are being urged to stay out of floodwater due to the dangers of lifted manhole covers and water contaminated with sewage.

Agencies involved in dealing with the flooding include Environment Agency, Police and Southern Water.

The rest centre is being run by Arun District Council with support from the Red Cross Fire and Emergency Support Service.

At about 3.30pm, the RSPCA announced its water rescue team is now on standby to assist the fire service in the Littlehampton and Bognor areas as high tide approaches.

Incidents

Elsewhere firefighters spent more than four hours pumping water from a basement and lift shaft in the east wing of Worthing Hospital.

Crews were called to the building at about 11.30pm last night. No existing patients were affected but emergency cases were diverted to neighbouring Brighton and Chichester for several hours overnight.

A hospital spokesman said, at the peak of the rainfall, floodwater reached 11.8in (30cm) as a month's worth of rain fell in just 12 hours, overwhelming the local drainage system.

The main areas affected included the postgraduate medical centre, the doctors' mess and the basements of the north and east wings.

Witnesses reported just after 7am the A23 blocked both ways at the Handcross junction in Handcross, south of Crawley, because of an overturned car.

Parts of the A27 are also shut between Chichester and Emsworth in Hampshire due to flooding.

Others reported westbound traffic on the A27 was halted after a two-car accident at the Southwick tunnel, near Shoreham at about 7.15am.

Witnesses said queues extended back to the Hangleton junction as police held up traffic.

At the same time, London Road in Burgess Hill is closed due to a fallen tree while the A259 Felpham Way in Bognor is shut in both directions near Downview Road due to flooding.

In Brighton and Hove, fire crews reported some properties were affected by the heavy rain.

However the rest of East Sussex was relatively unaffected.

Crews were called to Brighton Dome at about 00.30am this morning after reports of water pouring into its roof space.

It was left to the maintenance crews from the listed building to repair the leaks.

Crews in Hove faced similar issues when it was called at 8.30pm last night to Aymer Road where water was pouring through a flat roof into loft space of a property.

Flood alerts and advice

The Environment Agency has issued flood alerts for a number of rivers in the county.

This includes the River Adur and tributaries from Burgess Hill to Henfield, the River Uck, which flows in and near Uckfield, and the Ifield Brook, which could affect parts of Crawley.

The Lower Ouse and tributaries from Slaugham, near Horsham to Newhaven Harbour and the River Cuckmere were also being closely monitored.

Sussex Police advised: "Extra care should be taken when driving because of large amounts of surface spray on roads and fallen trees. There may also be disruption to other travel and outdoor activities."

Have you been affected? Call The Argus on 01273 544530 or email neil.vowles@theargus.co.uk. Or you can send us your pictures to news@theargus.co.uk.

There are currently 13 road closures in place overseen by West Sussex County Council.

Kerves Lane, Horsham, - Tree down and flooding at Amies Mill bridge.

East Mascalls Lane, Lindfield A23 closed southbound near Slaugham.

A272 Bolney A27 Chichester to Emsworth - diversion along A259 (old A27)

A259 Felpham Way - traffic through

North Parade, Horsham

Blakes Farm Road, Horsham

Fitzalan Road, Littlehampton

Bernard Road, West Worthing

Maidenbower Lane, Crawley

Warninglid Lane, Warninglid

B2114 Rose Cottage Lane, Staplefield