FLOOD-hit residents across East Lancashire said they feel 'let down' by the perceived lack of support from County Hall.

Residents in Whalley gathered at the village hall yesterday in the hope of meeting with representatives from Lancashire County Council to address concerns not enough had been done since the storm passed.

Experts estimate billions of pounds worth of damage was caused after river levels burst through protective banks and surged into streets of towns and villages across the county.

Whalley and Padiham were both badly affected with businesses and homes flooded.

Katei Blezard, a clean up volunteer in Whalley, said the county council needed to make its presence felt in the village.

She said: "We, the residents do not physically have the resources to do this on our own.

"We need professional help as well as the money and skill from the county council to help us get our village back together.

"There's dozens of people willingly working several hours a day, unpaid, just to make sure everyone else is safe and dry.

"It shouldn't be left to us in the community to clear up, they should be doing that."

As well as selfless individuals, community groups like Whalley Lions, have been on hand to clear out flooded houses and organise aid.

Kellie Hughes, owner of Kellie Hughes Hair and Beauty in King Street, Whalley said the residents had to take it upon themselves to clear up the mess.

She said: "The Ribble Valley Borough Council have been behind us and our task over 200 per cent.

"Stuart Hirst, Marshall Scott and everyone has done everything in their power to keep things going.

"We've not seen anything from the Lancashire County Council which is very frustrating."

Ribble Valley Council said that 16 households have been put in immediate temporary accommodation after being left homeless.

Residents in Padiham echoed similar concerns about the county council's involvement.

Mark Jinkinson, owner of Mark Jinkinson Optometrists in Burnley Road, said: "I've not seen much of the county council. There was a lot of staff out on day one, but there hasn't been further sight since the clean up.

"The highways were supposed to have closed off roads in the town, but 4x4s were going through the water 'for a laugh' and caused it to rush down the roads which was potentially dangerous.

"When it was thought that the floods would come back for a second time, sandbags suddenly appeared, where were these bags on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?"

However County Cllr Jenny Mein, leader of Lancashire County Council, said the authority had been working around the clock since Boxing Day to help all residents affected by flooding.

She said: "We worked with district councils to open five emergency rest centres for people unable to get their homes, including one in Whalley and another in Longridge for those affected by the floods in Ribchester.

"We worked closely with the emergency services to clear roads and keep the road network moving as best we could.

"Highways officers have delivered and used hundreds of sandbags, bringing extra supplies in from around Lancashire as needed. Roads and bridges were closed wherever they were dangerous to travel on and cleaned and re-opened as soon as dangers had passed.

"We've also identified and contacted people who receive social care support to check they're safe and have everything they need, as well as supporting care providers affected by the floods.

"County council staff have done a tremendous job throughout to play their part in dealing with an unprecedented situation, alongside the excellent work of colleagues from the many other agencies involved.

"The efforts of public service staff and communities alike in the face of adversity are the bright point to emerge from an extremely distressing situation - if there's anything we can learn from our experience of recent weeks to improve our response next time then we certainly will."

Yesterday clean up efforts were still ongoing as residents battled blustery Storm Frank.