Sussex began mopping up afresh today after yesterday's flood misery.

Most of the county escaped further flooding overnight but more than 2in of water seeped into East Sussex Fire Brigade's headquarters in North Street, Lewes.

Lewes residents were on standby in case the River Ouse burst its banks, as happened disastrously in October, but high tide passed at midnight without homes being affected.

This morning a spokesman for the Environment Agency said Sussex had had a narrow escape.

He said: "We just about got away with it but it was a very close run thing. People were rightly anxious, as we were, but luckily it didn't happen this time."

Water levels have now started to fall and a severe flood warning on the Cuckmere River from Alfriston to Exceat Bridge has been removed.

More rain is forecast on Saturday night and the Environment Agency has warned people across the county to be on their guard.

Areas of Brighton and Hove backing on to the Downs are particularly at risk as rain water runs off the saturated hills.

The Environment Agency spokesman said: "People at the back of Brighton in properties prone to flooding should certainly have sandbags ready."

In October, Sussex saw the worst flooding for decades. Homes were deluged and parts of Lewes and Uckfield were wrecked.

Yesterday's flooding affected the post in rural areas. Royal Mail suspended deliveries in the Chalvington area yesterday and customers in Hellingly, Magham Down, Herstmonceux and Wartling were also warned they could be affected.

Rail services were delayed this morning after flooding caused a landslip at Coulsdon, south London.

Some Brighton trains into the capital were diverted on to another line.

A Connex spokesman said the line had been cleared at 7.10am and rush-hour services were running normally.

He said: "There might be a slight knock-on effect but we believe it will be fairly minimal."