FURIOUS residents have called for urgent action after homes were left flooded when a river burst its banks.

Pensioner Jim Palmer described how a 'deluge' of water came through his front door when a blocked debris screen caused the River Darwen to overflow on Friday evening.

Thousands of pounds of damage has been caused to houses in Clough Street, Darwen, as a result of the flood and has left residents demanding action to prevent a second wave.

But bosses at the Environment Agency said the situation was caused by rubble dragged down by heavy rainfall blocking the debris screen, which is designed to ensure culverts run freely and s regularly cleaned out.

An Environment Agency spokesman said the organisation is currently carrying out work as part of a flood risk management scheme to reduce flood risk to Darwen from the failure of Jacks Key Reservoir.

But Mr Palmer said the area had never flooded in the 23 years he has lived there and said there had been plenty of near misses since the instillation of the screen.

Mr Palmer, 79 who used to work for Crown Paints, said: “Nobody knew it was happening. We were all in our houses like it was a normal night. One of our neighbours knocked on our window. I opened the door and it was like a deluge. I couldn’t believe it.

“The children came round and moved all the furniture to the kitchen which is a bit higher up. So we were quite lucky in a way only to lose a carpet.

“Something needs to be done urgently. It never flooded in the 23 years we have been here until they started doing work on it.

“I just want them to restore it to how it was. I’m sick of fearing it’s going to flood every time it rains. There have been so many near misses.”

Neighbour Rob Hancock, 41, who works as a builder, said: “These properties haven’t flooded in 200 years. The problem only started when the Environment Agency installed the debris screen.

“For the last 12 months everybody has been on edge each time it has rained.”

Andy Brown, Environment Agency Flood Risk Manager, said the organisation wants to meet with residents and Blackburn with Darwen Council to discuss any concerns.

Mr Brown said: “We have carried out a review into what caused the flooding at Clough Street. It appears that as the River Darwen rose due to heavy rainfall, it collected debris on its way downstream which then went on to block the screen at Clough Street. This meant that unfortunately the river did overtop in this location, flooding several properties.

“As is standard practice, the Environment Agency completed a grid run across Lancashire on Friday afternoon, and removed all waste from each debris screen, including the one at Clough Street. Further grid runs were also carried out throughout the weekend.

“We have started an investigation into why the screen blocked much quicker than we would usually expect, and to see if there is anything further that can be done to ensure this will not happen again.

“The Environment Agency was on site all weekend to ensure the debris screen did not block again and to provide advice and guidance to local residents.”