Storm Ciara leaves a trail of destruction across East Lancashire

Eighty-mile-an-hour winds and rain battered the region and disrupted Sunday for thousands of residents.

And now forecasters are predicting snow and ice might be on the way before the end of the week.

Roman Road in Eccleshill, the Grane Road, the A56 at Foulridge, the M65 and others, were either closed or could only be navigated with extreme caution.

Highways officials in Blackburn closed off Hollin Bridge Street and Peel Street as water levels rose.

Homes were hit in several places, including Earby and Whalley, both badly affected by the 2015 Boxing Days floods.

Cllr David Whipp, who represents the West Craven town on Pendle Council, said homes in Victoria Street were flooded.

He was involved, with a volunteer army of flood wardens, in distributing sandbags, as firefighters pumped away water from a key junction.

An evacuation of a number of homes was also reported to have taken place in the centre of Whalley.

An emergency was declared by county police and fire services, with the latter dealing with up to 30 incidents throughout the day.

Chief Supt Russ Procter, head of response policing for Lancashire, said at the time: “If you don’t need to venture out today then please don’t.

“Our officers and staff are working tirelessly with Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and North West Ambulance, local authorities and other agencies across Lancashire to manage demand and keep you informed and safe.”

Deputy chief fire officer Justin Johnson added: “Due to the volume of incidents across the county we have declared a major incident. Please do not travel unless absolutely necessary.”

The major incident warning was later stood down.

More than a dozen flood warnings had been issued by the Environment Agency, starting off with the Rivers Hyndburn and Calder but later spreading to include the Rivers Brun, Don, Hodder, Irwell and Ribble, and Pendle Water and Colne Water.

Landlords in Ribble Valley were left counting the cost as there were cut off.

The Parkers Arms, at Newton-by-Bowland, turned away diners after all bridges leading to the village were breached. And staff at Mitton’s Aspinall Arms could only access the pub by dinghy, as two customers’ cars were left stranded in the car park.

Oswaldtwistle Mills closed later in the day and dozens of other businesses were affected.

Football was affected with Blackburn Sunday League games at Pleasington abandoned.

Train services beyond Preston, towards Blackpool North and Lancaster and Scotland on the West Coast Main Line, were curtailed and the knock-on effect for staff resulted in a number of East Lancashire services being axed.

Bus routes in Blackburn, Burnley and Bacup were also severely affected, according to operator Transdev.

Now there is also the threat of snow and ice later this week.

Frank Saunders, Met Office chief meteorologist, said: “In the wake of Storm Ciara, it’ll remain unsettled and very windy across the UK and it’ll turn colder with wintry showers and ice an additional hazard.”