Up to 42,000 Kent homes are at "significant" risk of flooding, according to the Environment Agency's latest report.

Of the half a million properties under threat across England, the largest number - over 110,000 - is in the South East.

Shepway is one of the top ten most threatened local authorities nationally, with up to 10,000 households within the highest risk band in the Environment Agency's 2009 National Flood Risk Assessment.

"Significant" likelihood means that there is a one in 75 chance of flooding in any given year.

The Environment Agency continues to invest over £25 million a year to sustain and improve flood defences in Kent and East Sussex.