Mud as ‘major declared
busy weekend as part of the multi-agency emergency response to deal with the impacts of Storm Ciara.
“I’d like to thank them for their hard work and dedication as I understand they put in some very long hours, and did all they could to mitigate the impact of the flooding to our communities.”
West Lancashire was hit hard by 70mph winds and torrential rain causing floods and other damage with widespread travel disruption to roads, buses and trains.
Ormskirk, Leyland and Tarleton fire station crews cleared floodwater from affected houses and businesses to make roads passable.
Many members of the public also came out to help clear fallen trees in areas including Skelmersdale where flooding was so bad in Yewdale that one car got stuck in the mud and had to be recovered by Green Flag.
There were similar scenes in Ormskirk in Cotton Drive and Halsall Lane, along with Wigan Road, School Lane and Castle Lane in Westhead.
Aughton Town Green Primary School remained closed until Tuesday and luckily no one was harmed by a fallen tree near Nellie Indian Restaurant in Scarisbrick.
Newburgh was also heavily affected with the post office flooded and Cobbs Brow Lane closed with at least one house flooded.
Cedar Farm chocolate specialist Choc Amor was forced to close in the morning as roads in and around Croston village and Mawdesley started to flood. It reopened on Tuesday, February 11.
The firm’s director, Paul Williams, said: “We closed the shop early and my wife, Jacqui, made the journey the long way round.
“I was supposed to go into work but decided the risk was too much due the amount of rainfall. The centre of the village was closed to traffic but the pubs were still open for refreshments.
“The River Yarrow had swollen some six metres. No harm to life but it did give us a cheeky afternoon off to enjoy a couple of drinks.”
In Burscough, Square Lane, Main Road, Briars Lane, and Course Lane flooded.
Burscough Residents Flood Group urged anyone who experienced flooding to report it to United Utilities.
In a Facebook post it said: “If you’ve had raw sewage in the floodwater you should ask for compensation as you’re entitled to if it’s on your land.
“Email us at bfg@full stopltd.co.uk. Please also take as many photos as possible.”
The warning was relaxed at 3pm with the Met Office’s amber warning also taken down, but a snow and ice warning continued on to later in the week.