Residents warned to prepare for possible flooding

The flood alert areas cover towns including Staines, Egham, Chertsey and Camberley

Residents in areas of Surrey have been told to prepare for possible flooding.

On Sunday night, flood alerts were in place in for the River Bourne in Chertsey, the River Thames from Datchet to Shepperton Green and between Shepperton and Molesey, and the nearby River Blackwater and Cove Brook.

The flood alert areas also cover Staines, Egham, Laleham, Chertsey, Virginia Water, Thorpe Green, Hamm Court, Walton-on-Thames, Sunbury and Camberley.

The Environment Agency said: "It’s likely that run-off from rainfall or blocked drains and overflowing rivers will flood low lying land and roads."

Residents in the area have been told to avoid going through flood water, to have insurance documents and medication ready, and to move any livestock and farming equipment away from areas likely to flood.

Property flooding is not currently expected but people in the potentially impacted areas are being told to avoid low lying footpaths near watercourses.

The government said staff were managing weirs on the Thames to reduce the flood risk from Datchet to Shepperton Green.

In January, up to 100 people were evacuated from Addlestone because of flooding in the area.