HEAVY rain is causing flooding in parts of East Lancashire - with a yellow weather warning issued by forecasters.

The rain saw the River Ribble burst its banks at Sawley yesterday, flooding nearby fields and roads to Grindleton and Bolton by Bowland.

In Blackburn, there was also flooding on the junction of Fort Street and Stanley Street under the railway bridge.

Motorists were urged to take care and avoid the areas and find alternative routes.

The fire service said it attended around 20 incidents in the space of a few hours, most of which were flood-related. While it said its control room took over 50 flooding-related calls during the same time period.

Phil Whittaker, station commander at Chorley and Bamber Bridge fire stations, tweeted: "Currently at the Spread Eagle at Sawley where the Ribble has breached its banks and is flooding adjacent fields and affecting roads to Grindleton & Bolton by Bowland. Motorists please avoid the area."

The fire service tweeted: Over the last few hours we have attended nearly 20 incidents. The majority have been flooding related."

Blackburn with Darwen Police tweeted: "Please be aware that there is flooding on Fort Street junction of Stanley Street, Blackburn, especially under the railway bridge. Highways have been contacted and we advise you avoid this area and find an alternative route."

The bad weather has prompted the Met Office to issue a yellow weather warning for rain, covering the North West between 3pm and 11.59pm today. 

The Met Office has warned that heavy rain could cause disruption due to localised flooding.

Forecasters also said that flooding of a few homes and businesses is likely while bus and train services could be affected, with journey times taking longer.

They said that spray and flooding on the roads could also make journey times longer while there could be some interruption to power supplies and other services.