EAST Lancashire was struck by high winds and torrential rain yesterday, as Storm Clodagh hit home.

Road users in the area were advised to check the weather forecast and road conditions before travelling as winds reached speeds of up to 70 miles per hour in some areas.

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The Met office had issued a yellow warning for wind and said there was the chance of disruption.

Rain which had begun heavily on Saturday saw the M65 retain a lot of surface water which caused congestion.

Three motorists were also involved in a collision on the motorway and it is thought a Citroen Picasso travelling in the outside lane sun and clipped the central reservation on Friday night.

Firefighters were called to Briercliffe Road in Burnley yesterday afternoon as a shop sign had become loose due to the strong gales.

Crews from Burnley Fire Station reattached the sign which was hanging over the pavement and made it safe.

The Spread Eagle pub in Mellor had to close temporarily due to a power cut in the area which stopped the electricity supply.

The Met Office has set a yellow weather warning of snow for today which could see snow restricted to hills above 400 metres.

Drier conditions will spread east through late morning and early afternoon.

The Met Office said to be aware of the need to take extra care and allow more time to travel.

Fallen trees on the line caused delays between Carlisle and Lancaster on the Northern Rail service, and, nationally, some local authorities cancelled Christmas lights switch-on celebrations including Stoke, Maidenhead, Lichfield and Gosport.

Cheshire police warned residents to only go out if necessary .

Two people were rescued from a capsized boat in the mouth of the Tyne. Tynemouth RNLI recovered the boat, which had been overturned in the gale-force winds. In Ireland, thousands of properties were left without electricity after Storm Clodagh battered the republic.

The storm is heading into the North Sea, said MeteoGroup, and wind will lessen over the next few days.