THE gatehouse at Smithills Country Park has been flooded.

Firefighters were called to the house within the country park at about 11.30pm last night after a combination of bad weather and drainage issues caused the garden and house to flood.

Water rose to about two feet in the garden and several inches inside the house as firefighters worked to pump the water away from the property.

Crews from Bolton Central and Bolton North fire stations were at the scene till about 3am.

The house is believed to have been damaged by the water.

Bolton Council, which owns the estate that surrounds Smithills Hall, has been informed of the incident by the fire service.