FLOOD-HIT homeowners across East Lancashire were told today to brace themselves for more heavy rain as weather forecasters warned the worst is yet to come.

People spent another night anxiously watching river levels rise as more than half a month's rain fell in just two days.

Met Office experts forecast persistent rain today and a wild and wet night with gusts of wind up to 50mph in exposed places.

An Environment Agency rain gauge measured 84mm of rain in the county over the last 48 hours compared to a monthly October average of 144mm. A further 30 to 40mm was forecast for the next 24 hours.

The Agency issued a flood warning in Ribchester as the River Ribble threatened to burst its banks. The main road through the village was closed to traffic by police yesterday as it was covered by up to two feet of water.

Many roads across East Lancashire were flooded, but were passable today. Early rail services between Clitheroe and Blackburn were affected this morning because of flooding on the line. The track was reopened at 7.30am.

Flood calls swamped Lancashire Fire Service's emergency switchboard prompting fire chiefs to appeal to people to act responsibly. The fire service set up a freephone hotline for people effected by flooding who needed advice. The number ran for 24 hours from 3pm yesterday and will be brought into action again if further flood alerts arise.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "A concentrated band of rain stayed over Lancashire rather than moving on and there's no sign of it disappearing."

Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale bore the brunt of the bad weather with floods hitting Barrowford and Padiham.

Students were sent home from Nelson and Colne College when heavy rain flooded nearby roads. A section of motorway between Burnley and Colne was closed and the Padiham to Barrowford bypass was badly affected. The roads were later re-opened.

St Thomas' Primary School, Barrowford, was also closed and the fire service were called out to Blacko Primary School. All schools apart from Bowland High, Grindleton, near Clitheroe, were open today.

Pendle Council cancelled last night's services committee meeting at Nelson Town Hall because of the weather.

Residents and parish councillors in Earby called for urgent action after roads through their village were swallowed up by the flood waters for the third time this year.

Picture: Councillor Jill Taylor in her waterlogged garden at the Majorie, Whalley, after the River Calder broke its banks