Flood Alerts Are Issued For Huge Stretch Of London And Thames Barrier Is Closed For First Time This Winter After River Burst Its Banks Due To Massive Tides And Heavy Rain

The River Thames burst its banks and overflowed onto flood plains in Greenwich, south east London, and Greenhithe, Kent (bottom right), today while dramatic photographs show river levels extremely high in areas such as Embankment (left). 

Water levels were almost as high as the pavement in areas across central London, including in the Charing Cross area, with flood alerts in place from Greenwich all the way to Putney, west London. 

The Thames Barrier, which spans 520 metres across the river near Woolwich, was shut yesterday (top right) 'to protect London from the threat of flooding due to the high level of rain combined with high tides from the sea'. 

The action was taken after Storm Imogen lashed the country with heavy downpours earlier this week.

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