Storm Frank: Lancashire village of Croston prepared for more heavy flooding

Residents of flood-hit houses in the Lancashire village of Croston have been urged to pack up and leave without delay as the prospect of severe flooding once again threatens the area.

Three severe flood warnings are still in place for the village after a breach in defences appeared on the River Douglas nearby yesterday.

The Army and an RAF chinook were brought in to fill the gap, carrying one-tonne sandbags in an attempt to limit flood damage from Storm Frank.

The latest in a series of bad weather events during December, Frank is already battering the UK, bringing fears of fresh flooding and further misery for already beleaguered communities.

The clear-up operation in the village of Croston in Lancashire. Credit: PA Images

Meanwhile a red weather warning was issued overnight for the Isle of Man with up to 100mm (4ins) of rain expected on high ground.

There are also several flood warnings in place for Cumbria and for the River Dee in Cheshire, where river levels are already high and further rain is expected.

Latest Flood Warnings

  • Severe Flood Warning: River Yarrow at Croston, Area C:- properties in Croston in Back Drinkhouse Lane and Drinkhouse Lane, the junction of Westhead Road and Riverside Crescent, Lonsdale Drive, Langdale Avenue, Coniston Way and Croston sewage works.

  • Severe Flood Warning: River Yarrow at Croston, Area B:- properties in Croston in Drinkhouse Road, Drinkhouse Lane next to the railway, Westfields, Riverside Crescent, Yarrow Close, Carvers Bridge, Turflands, The Hillocks, and Home Farm Mews.

  • Severe Flood Warning: River Yarrow at Croston, Area A:- properties in Croston on Grape Lane, Town Road, and Yarrow Close next to the River Yarrow

  • Flood Warning: Properties and farmland on the English Dee from Frog Lane, Shocklach to Chester, including locations at Farndon, Poulton, Aldford, Eccleston, and Huntingdon

Lisa Pinney of the Environment Agency said river levels had been falling but the renewed rainfall increased the risk of fresh flooding in already saturated areas like Cumbria and Lancashire. Ms Pinney, a flood manager, said:

The Army and an RAF chinook preparing for flooding yesterday. Credit: ITV News

Although the floodwaters have been receding, across the North, more than 6,700 homes have flooded in the past week.

Councillor Mark Cowley, chairman of Croston Parish Council, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that everyone is worried about Storm Frank after flooding over Christmas.

He said:

Credit: @Crostonnews on Facebook