Land turns into lakes after downpours

Alas, it wasn’t just the champagne that was flowing as the new year arrived.

The first few days of 2014 also saw Ashford inundated with water as rivers, dykes and ditches overflowed and car parks and underpasses became flooded.

The picnic area by the Hubert Fountain in Ashford’s Victoria Park became a no-go area, and the footpath under the M20 motorway alongside the River Stour near Ashford Rugby Club in Kennington was impassable except for those wearing waders.

It was a similar story in low-lying fields around the town which flooded after continual downpours.

The car parks at the Stour Centre and the Gallagher Retail Park off Norman Road were underwater for several days.

More flooding pictures, pages 32 and 33

Picture: Gary Browne FM2972144 The car park for Currys, Pets at Home and Halfords under water

Picture: Linda Dodd The flooded picnic area by the Hubert Fountain in Ashford’s Victoria Park

Picture: Gary Browne FM2972148 Horses on the flooded fields near Kingsnorth

Picture: Ted Prangnell The walkway under the M20 near Ashford Rugby Club in Kennington