Mopping up after Wigan floods as normality returns - for most

For most people, things were returning to normal this morning after the torrential downpours of Monday (September 30) abated during the night.

Roads that had been shut off yesterday have re-opened and local rail services disrupted by flooding have resumed.

But not before damage was caused in places, not least a row of bungalows in Bickershaw Lane, Bickershaw, where firefighters from Wigan fought in vain to pump water out of ground floor rooms.

A spokesman for the crew said: “Most of the residents in these five or so homes are elderly and we advised them to leave but they didn’t want to.

"This is a recurring problem because there is a nearby brook which often overflows in heavy rain.

"We were there from 10pm last night and trying to pump water away but it was having no effect because there was nowhere for it to go and more was coming down the banking.

"I am going to write to the council to see if there is anything they can do long term about this because it is bound to happen again.”

There is more rain forecast for today but nowhere near as heavy as yesterday, and once it has passed by late afternoon it is predicted to herald several dry days until the weekend when lighter rain returns.

Among roads that were closed yesterday was Southgate where water under the Adam viaduct where water became too deep for cars to negotiate.