COUNCIL bosses stressed work would continue on large scale housing developments despite flooding issues caused by Storm Ciara.

Cllr John Pearson asked Blackburn with Darwen Council executive member for growth and development, Cllr Phil Riley, to suspend building work on development sites near Gib Lane in Blackburn after a number of people suffered flooding during last weekend’s storms.

But Cllr Riley said any flooding was due to the fact that the borough experienced three weeks’ worth of rain in 12 hours rather than any issues with drainage as a result of building work.

He said there had only been eight confirmed cases of people’s homes being flooded as a result of Storm Ciara.

Cllr Pearson said: "People on the south side of Livesey Branch Road whose rear gardens adjoin the Wain Homes and Kingswood Homes developments have suffered significant flooding.

"This is a repetition of similar occurrences over the last two years since these development works began.

"The problems arise because of inadequate design and construction of te surface water drainage system implemented by the developers.

"The council should intervene and suspend approval of further dwelling construction on these two sites until the design and construction of the surface water drainage systems are checked and any changes that may be required are implemented in full."

Cllr Riley said: "We are working hard to improve infrastructure because the flooding of properties creates misery for all involved. "70mm of rain fell in 12 hours - three weeks of rain in half a day.

"The last time we had so much in a short period was in 2012 when 79mm fell in 14 hours and more than 100 homes in the borough were flooded.

"The drainage system appears to have coped really well and to the best of our knowledge, no property in that area suffered internal flooding.

"There is no need to put a stop to work at this much needed housing development."

Disruption to transport is expected as heavy rain and strong winds are set to batter the UK for a second consecutive weekend.

The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings ahead of the arrival of Storm Dennis, covering England, Wales and large parts of Scotland on Saturday, and the entire UK on Sunday.

These include amber warnings stating that flooding could cause a danger to life, power cuts are expected and there is a good chance transport links will be impacted.

Winds of up to 70mph and severe downpours are forecast.