UP to 600 Rye homes could be affected by flooding in the event of a tidal surge.

The warning comes from the Environment Agency as it unveils emergency plans to protect the town.

These include flood gates, demountable defences, flood walls and barriers at Scots float sluice, Rock Channel, Strand Quay, and Rye harbour Wharf.

Affected would be the main A259, at New Road, which has a concentration of homes, and the Tilling Green estate, which houses a quarter of Rye's population.

A special simulation exercise is taking place in Rye today (Friday) to test the Environment Agency's emergency response and to help ensure defences hold in the event of a flood.

The exercise comes just a week after homes in Hastings were flooded when a month's rainfall fell in just three hours.

Rye has come perilously close to flooding in the past when rivers came within inches of bursting their banks.

But the real danger would come from a possible tidal surge.

The Environment Agency says it is vital to protect Rye's Harbour due to its importance to the local economy, with an estimated socio-economic value exceeding £10 million per annum.

The harbour activities are thought to generate 153 full time equivalent jobs.

More than 100 of these are linked to the fishing industry which contribute an economic value of more than £8 million.

Environment Agency spokesman Jan Leslie said: "The harbour contains a large number of flood defence structures designed to protect the town of Rye and the surrounding area from flooding by providing the main outlet tidal channel draining water from low lying land of the marshes and the Rivers Rother and Tillingham."

He added: "Our first flood prevention open day in Rye will give the community a real insight into the measures we've got in place, and the constant hard work we undertake, to prevent flooding in the town and further afield."

The exercise involves closing flood protection gates at Rock Channel and Strand Quay.