RIVERS burst their banks across East Lancashire as Storm Hannah battered the region over the weekend.

Several areas in the region were affected by flooding and the severe wet weather on Saturday, including the Ribble Valley, Burnley, Colne, Padiham and Ramsbottom.

Police had to close the A59 from Sawley to Clitheroe, some trains were cancelled on the Manchester to Clitheroe line via Bolton and flooding issues surfaced at the Padiham bypass.

The M66 southbound, which runs from East Lancashire to Greater Manchester, has been closed for several hours between junctions one and two.

The highways authority, Lancashire County Council, worked with the local police, local authorities and Environment Agency to give support to the affected areas. A police spokesman said: "Please try and avoid these areas and take the necessary precautions."

The Westmorland Gazette:

Flood alerts had been issued last night and the River Calder and River Ribble burst their banks in the afternoon due to the heavy rainfall from Friday night into Saturday morning.

Altham, Sawley and Ribchester were some of the worst affected areas as main roads were closed in and out of the towns. One resident in Padiham said the ladies toilets beneath Padiham Town Hall had also been flooded.

Several reports were later made to Lancashire Police about flooding across East Lancashire affecting Waddington, Padiham, Burnley, Gisburn, Hellifield, Ramsbottom, Colne and Marton. The Environment Agency also issued a flood warning in the Colne areas of Colne Water at Lenches, around Waterside Industrial Estate and Green Road.

Football matches were cancelled due to waterlogged pitches, including Colne FC's home fixture against Radcliffe FC in the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League.

Fire crews visited Barrow Primary School to redirect the water away from the premises to the town.

The River Calder, near Altham Bridge, had burst its bank and the river has spilled over into the nearby fields. Motorists were advised to avoid the area. Flood alerts remain in place at the River Calder at several areas.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "We are closely monitoring the situation. Our incident response staff are checking defences. Please avoid using low lying footpaths near watercourses."