FLASH-flooding inundated around 40 homes and businesses after torrential rain caused a river to burst its banks for the second time in nine months.

Witnesses said water levels at around 7pm on Tuesday in Earby were about four to five feet, even higher than similar flooding on Boxing Day, as 35mm of rain fell in less than an hour.

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Residents have described the moment the violent thunderstorm turned ‘roads into rivers’.

Firefighters led and carried more than 10 people from the Madras Indian restaurant to safety at the height of the deluge and the town’s bus station was also under feet of water.

Elsewhere, the Asda store in Burnley was forced to close because of flooding and lightning strikes cut power to 35,000 properties in the town at 7.23pm.

All customers were restored by automatic systems within three minutes, Electricity North West said.

Another 32,302 properties in Nelson also suffered power cuts at around 8.11pm with 13,000 restored within three minutes, and around 19,000 homes restored after around two hours.

Yesterday, an emergency centre was set up in the Old Grammar School in Earby’s School Lane to assist those affected.

The flood occurred when Earby Beck breached its banks, despite high flood protection walls surrounding it.

Sam Irodenko, 22, of Water Street, Earby tried to protect his grandmother’s home when he realised the worsening situation. He said: “Water Street was already like a river with just the rain water but when the river overflowed it was unstoppable.

“I was using a brush to sweep water away from the front door and someone even lifted a drain to clear debris but it was no good.

“We had six sandbags at the front of my grandma’s house and a flood door but they were no use, the water still got in.

“It was above our shoes inside.”

Sam’s mum Sally, 49, said: “It’s very frightening and still shocking every time it floods.

“The council put new defences in place but they just broke down.

“We had big boards that we were holding at an angle to try to deflect the water, but it was no good.

“There were 4x4s driving up and down the road through the water trying to make waves, which didn’t help matters.

“All we can do is start again and rebuild as a family.”

Val Peate, 75, has run S&B Fruits grocery shop, on Water Street, for 34 years.

She said: “It’s the fifth time my shop has been flooded since 2004.

“I’ve never seen the water levels as high, it was flowing fast, like a river.”

Pendle councillor Morris Horsfield, 81, who has lived in Earby for decades, said: “I’d left a meeting in the parish rooms and soon realised the water levels were out of control.

“It was fast flowing and so deep you couldn’t cross the road in Victoria Street.

“There was no flood warning issued for the village.

“I think a common sense approach needs to be employed to think of solutions. There needs to be investment in the drains.”

Other businesses affected included the Albion Hall Conservative Club on Victoria Road.

Club president John Little, 65, said: “Our cellar was completely flooded and water got in the rear of the club close to the pool table and toilets.”

Yesterday a massive clean up operation was ongoing.

Fire crews and council road sweeping vehicles were assisted by volunteers to clear tonnes of mud and debris from the streets.

Rolling road closures were also in place as firefighters from Earby, Nelson and Colne worked in the town.

Incident manager Neil Hardiman, leading the fire and rescue response yesterday, said: “Our priorities at the moment are assisting householders and businesses to clean up and clearing the mud a debris from the highways.

“Hopefully by the end of Wednesday the operation will be complete.”

David Johnnie, the county highways manager, said: “We deployed a gully wagon and used water jets to clear the road drains and subsequent mud and silt, with those staff who dealt with the incident remaining at the scene into the early hours.

“Along with the emergency services and Pendle Council, work has been ongoing to ensure that the gullies and roads are clear of any silt.”

Since last December’s floods, three schemes have been implemented in Earby at a cost of £80,000.

They are a drainage sump in the bus station, improvements to the beck walls on Water Street and improvements to the waterway next to the Conservative Club.

According to Pendle Council documents, The Environment Agency is also about to commission a £50,000 study to update its existing model for Earby which may be a precursor to a multi-million pound flood alleviation scheme.

Staff from Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson’s office set up a mobile office at the Old Grammar School.

He said: “Residential properties in Water Street, Victoria Road, Cemetery Road, Brow Hill and Sherborne Terrace have been affected.

“My team have arranged for a cleaning company to assist the businesses with their initial clean up, work is being organised on a priority basis.

“A big thank you to Unique Clean for their assistance.”

Pendle councillor David Whipp, called for Government assistance for those affected.

He said: “The water left a trail of devastation in its wake.

“All householders and businesses could do was bail out after the flash flooding had invaded their properties.

“Local volunteers quickly rallied round to help people affected by the flooding; their actions are praiseworthy.

“I have asked for the same level of government help to be extended to those flooded this time.”

Chris Fox, from Electricity North West, said engineers worked through the night to restore power.