THIS afternoon's Foster's Lancashire League programme has been washed out after heavy rain swept across East Lancashire.

All seven games were called off before their scheduled start times after overnight rain continued into the morning and flooded already soaking grounds.

The first one to officially fall victim to the downpours was the clash between Todmorden and Church at Centre Vale.

Heavy rain swept across the area and, following a week of bad weather, captains Andrew Sutcliffe and Craig Fergusson shook hands before 11.30am.

The big game between defending champions Lowerhouse and last year's runners-up Accrington perished, while Colne travelled to Rishton just for captains Matt Wilson and Jimmy Bibby to shake hands at noon with Blackburn Road unfit and more heavy rain falling.

Enfield's home game with Haslingden was called off without hesitation and it was a similar story at Alexandra Meadows where the East Lancashire v Bacup game also fell victim more than an hour before the scheduled start time.

Burnley's clash with Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall's home game with Nelson also went start time and an early decision was also taken to call off the ECB National Club Knockout tie between Darwen and Fulwood and Broughton as the rain was unrelenting at Birch Hall.

There was also a full programme scheduled in the Ribblesdale League - but many games are in doubt with the Padiham v Salesbury clash the first to be called off in that league.

It was soon followed by the clash between Clitheroe and Oswaldtwistle Immanuel and the Preston Old Road meeting between Cherry Tree and Baxenden. Leaders Barnoldswick were frustrated at second-placed Read, as were Earby v Edenfield, Settle v Whalley and Great Harwood and Ribblesdale Wanderers.

More to follow