‘VERY dangerous’ conditions have been caused on the M65 because of standing water, police said.

It came after part of the motorway between junctions 13 for Nelson and 14 at Colne had to be closed due to an accident caused by standing water on January 12. The smash involved two vehicles, one of which hit the central reservation.

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The road could not be fully reopened until workers from Lancashire County Council had been out to clear debris and litter from the drains, allowing the water to flow away again.

Insp Dave Wilson said: “It was down to the amount of standing water on the motorway. The council turned out and It was due to a blocked drain.

“They had to close lane two due to the water. It was described as being very dangerous.”

Oliver Starkey, the county council’s highways manager for East Lancashire, said the section of the M65 which was affected has long stretches with trees and bushes on both sides.

He said: “High winds break off the small branches which then blow onto the road and are carried by rainwater into the tops of the gullies, which can cause blockages.

“There is always a risk of surface water during torrential rain, especially when it’s combined with high winds, as it was on Monday.

“We clear the gullies regularly, but because it was so windy, they soon became blocked by twigs and other debris, which had been blown onto the motorway.

“As soon as we’d cleared the gullies, the water started flowing back down them and the road surface was much improved.

“Driving in adverse weather can be more difficult, and we always advise people to take the conditions into account, for example by allowing more time for their journeys.”