A flood warning has been issued for parts of Chertsey after heavy rainfall as residents were warned by authorities to take "immediate action" to address the dangers on Tuesday (February 2).

In an update posted by the government's Flood Information Service, a spokesperson for the body said that flooding was now "expected" in the area with floodwaters reaching homes and other properties "possible".

The warning itself concerned the area surrounding the River Thames at Laleham, with parts of adjacent Chertsey under the 'red' flood warning indicating high probability of flooding in the area.

"Property flooding is possible. River levels have risen on the River Thames as a result of a period of sustained rainfall.

"Therefore, flooding of roads and farmland is expected today (02/02/21) and flooding of properties is possible, especially along Laleham Reach," the statement, posted just after 8am this morning, read.

Surrey Comet: Screengrab of map featuring warnings published by the Flood Information Service 2.2.2021Screengrab of map featuring warnings published by the Flood Information Service 2.2.2021

"The forecast is for further showers today and into tomorrow (03/02/21). Levels are expected to continue slowly rising through today.

"We are closely monitoring the situation. Our incident response staff are in the area operating weirs to reduce flood risk.

"Please remain safe and aware of your local surroundings and avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses," it continued.

"Activate any property flood protection products you may have, such as flood barriers and air brick covers."

As the Surrey Comet reported recently, a number of lower level flood 'alerts' have been issued for parts of South West London and North Surrey close to the Thames after a period of sustained rainfall.

Those same areas, including parts of Kingston and Richmond, remain under amber-coloured flood alerts that indicate flooding is possible. 

Speaking with the newspaper on Monday, Environment Agency Spokesperson Peter O'Connor, described what residents could do to prepare themselves.

"If we say flooding is possible in any given area, then maybe get a bag together with medicines you need and so on.

"If we say it is expected, you've got to think about action: Moving furniture upstairs, moving cars away from flood water., that sort of thing."

O'Connor meanwhile commented on the growing number of floods in the area in recent years.

"If you're asking the question, why are we seeing more of this? The answer is that climate change is the main driver," he said.

"We are seeing more and more flooding which is connected to climate change.

"In the six years just gone we've spent £2.6 billion on flood defences, protecting about 336,000 properties, and we're just about to start another round of spending on flood protection for the next six years, which is £5.2 billion," the EA spokesperson pointed out.

For more information about flood alerts and warnings where you live, click here.