RELENTLESS: 100mm of rain in ONE day

More than a month’s worth of rain fell across Lancashire on Boxing Day causing rivers to burst their banks, homes to be flooded and left without power, roads closed and whole communities cut off.

It comes as many communities are still dealing with the aftermath of Storm Desmond, which caused widespread flooding across Lancashire earlier in the month.

This time the Environment Agency issued seven rare ‘red’ weather warnings, indicating a threat to life, in Ribchester, Chorley, Longridge, and around the Ribble Valley as every river in Lancashire reached record highs.

A 100mm of rain fell in 24 hours in Lancashire covering Christmas Day and Boxing Day – Blackpool normally gets 80mm in the whole of December.

Already 230mm have fallen this month.

The deluge is another blow to people living in St Michaels, who were badly hit by deep floods earlier this month when the River Wyre burst its banks during Storm Desmond.

This time residents were cut off as police were forced to close the A586 leading out of the village. Residents sought refuge at the Grapes Pub in Garstang Road.

Gary Wright, owner of The Grapes, said: “The Environment Agency was very worried about the high tide and the river breaking its banks.

“Some people were a bit concerned and worried. We had a lot of sandbags delivered to the pub so people could come in and take them just in case.

“But the River Wyre didn’t even burst its banks. There was a bit of sewage in the roads and a considerable puddle covering the main street, but compared to the first floods it was nothing.

“Everyone is counting themselves lucky. We were prepared for the worst but fortunately it didn’t happen.”

The A586 was re-opened yesterday afternoon,

Travel plans were also disrupted when a landslide covered the train tracks near Chorley Railway Station yesterday, which affected services to Blackpool and Manchester.

Tony Pounder, from Lancashire County Council, said: “Our highways teams are working hard to clear debris that’s contributing to localised flooding on the road network. We have had a number of enquiries about flooded roads and we’re dealing with them as quickly as we can.”

Residents in Croston, Walton-le-Dale, Ribchester and eastern parts of the county, who had been opening their Christmas presents just hours before, were told to evacuate their homes as water filled the streets.

Evacuation centres were set up around the county to help families stranded by the chaos. Rescue operations were put in place by emergency services and Environment Agency to help evacuate elderly and vulnerable residents.

Army personnel battled chest-deep floodwater to help save the lives of evacuees in Croston after hundreds of homes were left without power when the floods damaged an electricity sub-station.

Engineers from North West Electricity worked through the night to help restore power to 89 Croston homes affected by the floods – but 488 more were still without electricity yesterday.

Engineers have now warned that the extent of the flooding is so bad that some families will not have power restored to their homes until Monday.

As well as Blackpool home game against Oldham, the non-league fixture calendar was also decimated.

The National League North Lancashire derby between Chorley and AFC Fylde was postponed, as was the AFC Blackpool v Squires Gate clash in the Vodkat Premier League.

Evostik League games at Burscough, Clitheroe and Lancaster also fell foul of the deluge.

Now forecasters are warning even more rain is forecast to hit the county later in the week.

John Hammond, Met Office adviser, said: “As far as Met Office alerts and warnings go, attention next focuses on another deep and vigorous Atlantic depression – and its associated rain and strong winds as these approach the UK around the middle of the week.

“Compared to Boxing Day’s heavy rain, a subtle shift in wind direction towards a more southerly, could mean that Cumbria may receive the higher rainfall totals.

“Alternately, Lancashire and Greater Manchester may be somewhat sheltered.”

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