The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for residents living near Putney Embankment due to high tides and high river levels after the recent heavy rains.

The website says it anticipates high tides in the Richmond area causing problems in Putney until later this afternoon.

In recent years cars parked near the river have been completely submerged and the water has risen into gardens near the river.

A spokesman said: "The current river flow at Teddington Weir is high at 301cubic metres per second and is rising.

"The locations potentially affected by flooding are Putney Embankment (SW15), Chiswick Mall and Strand on the Green (W4), Thames Bank at Mortlake (SW14), Ranelagh Drive (TW1), Friars Lane and Water Lane (TW9), Riverside and The Embankment at Twickenham, and the Towpath below Teddington Lock.

"We will continue to monitor the local weather conditions and may issue further Flood Alerts."

Call Floodline on 0845 988 1188, select option 1 and enter Quickdial number 174115 to get more information.