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River levels remain high along the River Ribble at Preston after a deluge of rain in the past 36-hours.
The Environment Agency is continuing to closely monitor river levels along the stretch of the Ribble from Samlesbury through to Avenham Park with three flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected – remaining in force.
Pictures sent in by Blog Preston readers and shared across social media show every part of the city and surrounding area has been left with a very soggy start to the New Year.
Read more: Car parks, restaurant and London Road flooded as Walton-le-Dale suffers from overnight rain
Many roads have large amounts of standing water with some roads in Cottam, Walton-le-Dale and Lostock Hall blocked off by emergency services to stop drivers attempting to get through.
Roads affected by large amounts of flood water and in many cases are currently impassable include:
- Victoria Road, Walton-le-Dale
- London Road, Walton-le-Dale
- Kings Croft, Walton-le-Dale
- Lea Road, Ashton-on-Ribble
- Sandy Lane, Cottam
- Andertons Way, Fulwood
- Croston Road, Lostock Hall
- Billsborrow Lane, Inglewhite
- All roads around Catforth and Woodplumpton
- Blackburn Road, Ribchester (near the Ribchester Arms)
- Large sections of the Guild Wheel cycle and walking route around Preston particularly around Fishwick Bottoms and Frenchwood
If you’re aware of a road being affected by flooding then you can send us details to [email protected]
Speed restrictions and cancellations are in place across the rail network around Preston and the wider North West, with all Avanti, Northern and TransPennine services affected – according to National Rail.
A number of events and attractions have been disrupted, with Preston Parkrun’s New Year’s Day special cancelled and Martin Mere visitor centre closed due to flooding. The Mill café at St Catherine’s Hospice has been closed and all bookings cancelled due to the River Lostock bursting its banks and flooding the cafe’s car park. The café and hospice are not affected by flooding.
The rain has eased during New Year’s Day and now weather forecasters are putting warnings in place for ice and snow for the night and days ahead as temperatures rapidly drop.
Footbridge swept away in Walton-le-Dale
In Walton-le-Dale a popular footbridge used to go between Higher Walton Road and the Holland House estate across the River Darwen has been washed away.
Anthony Rowlands who lives nearby told Blog Preston: “It’s been a dramatic night it looks like.
“I knew it was going to be a bit more difficult than usual when I set out on my morning walk with the dog, I even went out in my hiking gear just so I could navigate any wet and muddy areas a little easier. Turns out a canoe and a life vest would have been more suitable.
“I’d decide to turn back and let my dog run lose on the fields close to my house but then as I went to cross the river found the 40 ft foot bridge had been washed away.
“This was sad to see, a lot of people will be affected by this.
“Hopefully the council can fix it and put something a bit structurally sound in place.”
Your flooding pictures of Preston
See pictures below from around Preston showing the extent of the flooding – which does not appear at this stage to have affected any properties – along the River Ribble and River Darwen. You can send your pictures to [email protected] and please ensure you’re staying safe if walking near fast-flowing rivers or deep water.
And we’ve been sent video of the flooded scenes in and around Frenchwood, Fishwick Bottoms and Walton-le-Dale by Roxanne Carter which you can see below or on YouTube
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