Story by Rory Poulter

Surprise high tides caught out motorists on Sunday with several cars next to Richmond Bridge swamped.

Despite weeks of low rainfall and falling river flows, a rush of tidal water from the mouth of the Thames through to Teddington Lock left towpaths flooded.

A flood alert was issued by the Environment Agency (EA), however it appears many people missed out on the warning.

There was a particularly high tide on 5.30pm on Sunday evening and another at 6.15am on Monday.

The EA said the height of the water matched those seen during the Spring tides earlier this year.