ROADS across East Lancashire ground to a halt yesterday as the M65 was closed because of flood water.

Rush hour traffic travelling between Blackburn and Nelson was forced to detour through Padiham, Higham and Fence after a section of the M65 was closed yesterday morning.

The wet weather conditions began causing chaos in the early hours and the decision was made to close the motorway at around 6am after a silver BMW spun off the road was found abandoned at junction 10.

Padiham bypass was also closed at Slade Lane and around Sabden and Higham after flooding made access to Sabden in all directions from Padiham impossible.

Padiham councillor Andy Tatchell, who lives on Whalley Road in Padiham said recent dredging of the River Calder may have prevented serious flooding in the area.

He said: “The first thing I knew about it was when there was traffic queued outside my house.

“The bypass is always busy in the morning with people going in and out of Burnley but I’d never seen it this bad.

“I hear some dredging has taken place in the last few weeks so that might have prevented a major flood.”

Vehicles were redirected onto Padiham Road where the traffic quickly backed up. Tempers raged among those trapped in the congestion and and a scuffle broke out between two drivers.

The incident between the driver of a black Porsche and the driver of a black Nissan Micra was filmed by resident Holly Elcock who saw the fight from her bedroom window.

She said: “I got up to look out of my window and the driver of the Porsches was getting out of his car and towards the man in the Micra.

“They both started arguing and then a scuffle started.

“When it ended the Micra sped off and then slammed on and got out of his car and took a picture of the Porsche registration number and drove off.

“Too many people fly up and down Padiham Road and cut in where it’s not safe, so in a morning of bad traffic and stressed drivers it’s not a shock.”

Lancashire County Council said the flooding had been caused by leaves collecting on top of drainage gullies.

A Lancashire County Council spokesman said “We are sorry for any inconvenience drivers in East Lancashire experienced. 

“At this time of year there are often problems with leaves blown on to the grids covering gullies which prevents drainage and that is what has happened on the M65 and the Padiham Bypass."

Angry commuters took to Facebook to share their theories about what caused the flooding, with many believing the newly installed safety barriers were to blame.

MET1982 said: “I’m sorry but whoever thought those ‘safety barriers’ were a good idea need their heads wobbling.

“Months of delays and congestion, and the end result is a barrier that does nothing but flood.

“Surely someone must have realised how many trees there are along that stretch of the M65 and that putting up a huge concrete wall would cause fallen leaves to block the minuscule drains on the motorway?"

Sam Gittins said: “It would help if that new barrier they spent so long building had some holes in it, wouldn’t it? “Water can’t pass through solid concrete.”

However Lancashire County Council said they were confident the flooding was caused by leaves covering the grids and roadsweepers were sent out to clear them ahead on more bad weather.