Yahoo News Rossendale streets flooded and river bursts its banks as residents told to avoid areas
Heavy rain is wreaking havoc across Lancashire with many roads closed or blocked due to flooding and homes left without power.
Rossendale appears to be bearing the brunt of Storm Bert this afternoon (November 23) with seven flood warnings now in force from the Environment Agency, urging residents to 'act now'. Pictures and videos shared on social media show motorists in Rawtenstall and Waterfoot wading through streets which have been left under water.
In Bacup, the River Irwell has reportedly burst its banks on Acre Park facing the football field. There is also flooding in the centre of Bacup near to B&M with heavy congestion on Market Street.
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Burnley Road in Rawtenstall is also gridlocked between the town centre and Rawtenstall. The flood warnings in Rossendale are centred along the River Irwell, including in Rawtenstall, Irwell Vale, Strongstry and Chatterton, Summerseat, Stubbylee Bridge and Stacksteads, Waterfoot and Bacup.
The other warnings are for Whitewell Brook at Whitewell Bottom and Scout and Whitewell Brook at Piercy and Newchurch from Ashworth Road to Wood Lea Road. The Environment Agency says rising river levels are 'expected to cause flooding from now until daybreak' and residents are being advised to 'start acting on your flood plan if you have one' and 'avoid walking, cycling or driving through flood water'.
Meanwhile, police in Chorley have also closed Bolton Road in Abbey Village near the Hare and Hounds due to flooding. Earlier this afternoon two lanes were closed on the M65 westbound at J8 for Accrington due to an overturned vehicle.
Dozens of homes are also currently without power in Coppull, Darwen, Blackburn, Pilling, Burnley, Lancaster, Whitworth and Helmshore, according to the Electricity North West website. The worst of Storm Bert is still to come, according to UK power chiefs. Winds of up to 70mph are set to batter coastal areas and, as temperatures rise on Saturday, melting snow and heavy rain are causing flooding.
Ross Easton, of Energy Networks Association (ENA) – which represents the UK’s power network operators, said: "There are a few localised weather-related power cuts in parts of Britain this morning. However, for most parts of the country the severe weather hasn’t yet had a significant impact.
"Forecasters are describing this as a ‘multi-hazard event’ with the worst of the weather yet to arrive, and so our members have extra engineers and contact centre teams available, and control rooms are monitoring the storm closely as it develops."
The Championship football match between Blackburn Rovers at Portsmouth at Ewood Park was postponed due to torrential rain flooding the pitch while matches involving Fleetwood Town and Accrington Stanley were also cancelled. Avanti West Coast has cancelled its service between Edinburgh and Carlisle all day on Saturday with the next direct service from Carlisle not scheduled to run until Sunday afternoon.
A 29-hour yellow weather warning for rain and snow remains in place across central, eastern and northern parts of Lancashire until 9am on Sunday.
