Residents of an East Sussex town have been told to move their cars from the town centre after heavy rain caused major flooding.

East Sussex Fire & Rescue issued the advice after a deluge of rain overnight flooded streets in the coastal town.

It said Priory Meadow Shopping centre had been evacuated and it has warned people to avoid the area.

Posts on social media show affected areas include Hastings seafront, the town centre and Alexandra Park.

The Environment Agency said flooding was also expected at Seaford seafront and town centre.

It currently has eight flood warnings in place for East and West Sussex – for Hastings, Alfriston, Seaford seafront, Seaford town centre, Amberley, Arundel, Climping and Bersted.

Train operator Southern said that due to heavy rain flooding the railway, it was unable to run trains between Hastings and Ashford International earlier.

The line has since reopened but it said services may still be cancelled.

East Sussex Fire & Rescue said it was “continuously monitoring” the weather and would “continue to mobilise resources as necessary”.

It added: “Public safety is a key priority and we would ask members of the public to only contact us in relation to flooding where there is a risk to life.”

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