COMMUNITIES have spent an anxious night fearing the worst as torrential rain caused flash floods in East Lancashire and left rivers swollen.

Blocked drains and saturated ground led to localised flooding on roads and traffic chaos across the county yesterday.

The downpours, which first began Monday night, prompted the Environment Agency to place much of East Lancashire on 'flood watch'.

In Colne, homes in Southfield Terrace and Laneshawbridge were severely flooded around 6am yesterday when water ran off nearby fields.

Firefighters used a mechanical digger to create a dam and channel the water away and spent most of the day pumping flooded cellars.

Hundreds of train passengers also faced delays as floods threatening to submerge parts of the line.

The Clitheroe to Blackburn line was swamped at Wilpshire Tunnel and at Brownhill, while the East Lancashire line was also closed between Blackburn and Preston due to running flood water, delaying local and Transpennine Express services.

At Lostock Hall trains stopped after the whole line was submerged.

A spokesman for Network Rail, said: "A train was stopped at Wilpshire Tunnel after the driver reported running flood water on the line.

"Trains can continue running until the water reaches the railway line but once it becomes running flood water there is a chance the debris will be washed onto the line and this causes the danger."

In Blackburn, the manager and regulars at the Brownhill Arms, in Whalley New Road, saved the pub from severe damage by activating flood barriers.

The pub has experienced problems with flooding for a number of years as the drainage pipe under the road is not adequate for the amount of rainfall. Thwaites brewery recently had the flood boards installed.

Relief manager, Alison Goodwin, said: "The landlord is away on holiday but we managed to put the flood barriers up and stopped water coming in because it flows around the sides of the pub.

"Rain did come in the back and flooded the cellar and the fire brigade were here to pump it out. But if it wasn't for the flood defences the water would have caused thousands of pounds in damage."

On the A666 in Wilpshire, water running down steep side streets flooded the road and nearby gardens, while the Oakes Bridge, in Ribchester Road, Clayton-le-Dale, flooded when drains became blocked. Police were called to direct traffic through the water.

Both the River Ribble, near Ribchester and Low Moor, Clitheroe, and the Hodder at Whalley threatened to burst their banks as water flowed in off surrounding fields. A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "Our staff are out dealing with incidents as they happen, using sandbags where necessary to protect property."

Emergency services advised residents to phone their local council about any flooding problems as they were dealing with so many calls.

Colin Worswick, a development control engineer for the Environment Agency, said the rain was due to clear so water levels should subside.

But occasional heavy showers were predicted for today.