A COUNCILLOR has demanded urgent action on a repeat flooding site before 'someone is killed or seriously injured'.

Following heavy rainfall, the culvert close to St Michael’s Church in Foulridge became blocked on Sunday morning and lead to flooding on the nearby A56 Colne Road.

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That lead to hazardous driving conditions because of a build up of surface and Pendle councillor David Whipp, who attempted to clear the blockage before calling the emergency services, called on Lancashire County Council to take action before somebody is seriously hurt.

Cllr Whipp, who also saw the aftermath of a crash in Kelbrook where a car had aquaplaned into an embankment, said: “Because of the build-up of surface water on the A56 certain parts became impossible to pass and motorists had to go into the centre of the road to negotiate it.

"Most drivers were sensible and slowed down but occasionally you would get an idiot who seemed to take great pleasure going through a flooded road and drenching everybody on the pavement.

"Other put their lives at risk by speeding through like lunatics.

“Foulridge has flooded repeatedly since 2015, causing major chaos on this Transpennine route.

“I have been keeping an eye on it for a number of months and cleared the culvert when the water levels have been high.

"That has been successful in the past but unfortunately we were defeated by the flood waters this time.

“I am disgusted the county council haven’t dealt with this issue effectively.

"It was apparent on Sunday that a lot of the road gulleys are completely blocked with debris.

"Unless urgent action is taken somebody is going to get killed or seriously injured or property is going to get damaged.”

A county council spokesman said work is due to start imminently to install a trash screen to try and stop the culvert becoming blocked.

The spokesman added: “The gully becoming blocked is frequently the cause of flooding in this area and this work will help to prevent this from happening again by making it easier to maintain.”

Elsewhere residents in Darwen were left furious after a debris screen blockage led to houses being flooded.

The incident happened on Friday evening and caused damage to six houses.

Andy Brown, from the Environment Agency, 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."