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Kent braced for battering amid another weather warning

Flooding in Eynsford after heavy rain
Flooding in Eynsford after heavy rain

Flooding in Eynsford after heavy rain last month

Kent is still on flood alert as heavy rain sweeps across the region.

The Environment Agency said there is still a risk of localised flooding across the south east as a severe weather warning remains in place.

Over-flowing drains are expected to cause the biggest problems.

The Met Office says up to three centimetres of rain could fall in three hours today.

The three-day weather warning comes as the damp start to summer continues.

Kent has seen about five centimetres of rain in a week, which is what would normally be expected for a whole month.

Meanwhile, concerns are growing that Kent vineyards will produce less wine this year.

Richard Jebb, who set up Kent Vineyard in Cranbrook in 2009
Richard Jebb, who set up Kent Vineyard in Cranbrook in 2009

The manager of Kent Vineyard is concerned the wet weather will prevent him getting his business off the ground.

Richard Jebb set up the Cranbrook vineyard in 2009.

However, his first harvest was ruined last year by frost and he is now concerned the same thing might happen again.

This June was one of the wettest on record, so winemakers need plenty of warm weather for their grape vines to flower.

Richard said: "The next ten days are when the vines are flowering and this is the crucial point for the 2012 harvest as the flowers determine the amount of grapes and the quality of wine you’re going to get.

"The biggest concern is the cold weather, but wet weather isn't great either. The vines won't produce as many grapes because they feel they can't ripen enough in the cold."

There are fears vineyards across Kent may face a poor crop this year, but trade body English Wine Producers said yields will receive a boost from the fact new vineyards are starting to bring their produce onto the market.

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